THE WARS OF JEHOVAH, 



ALEXANDER MACINTOSH, 

PRINTER, 
GREAT NEW-STREET, LONDON, 



THE 



WARS OF JEHOVAH, 



HEAVEN, EARTH, AND HELL 



IN NINE BOOKS. 



THOMAS HAWKINS, ESQ. 

WITH ELEVEN HIGHLY FINISHED ENGRAVINGS, 
BY JOHN MARTIN, ESQ., K.L. 



: nirr nbnba -issn— Numbers *xi. u. 

t : t : • 

Va TTavra Koi iv tvckti xptaros — Coloss. iii. 11. 



LONDON : 
FRANCIS BAISLER, 124, OXFORD STREET. 

1844. 



TF 



TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY, 

VICTORIA, 

by the grace of god queen of great britain and ireland, 
defender of the faith, etc., etc., etc. 

May it please Your Majesty, 

In adventuring the Work herein most humbly laid at 
Your Majesty's feet we were much encouraged by Your 
Majesty's most gracious acceptation of a former volume, and 
inspired with the hope that this present might serve as a 
mark for Your Majesty's reign unto the latest posterity. Your 
Majesty's predecessor had Spencer and Shakespear, nor are 
we amongst those who — imagining the time for celebrations 
of Princes past, waste their talents over a novel or romaunt in 
Hercules' manner when he sate to spin: but for this some 
better-gifted bard — some Amphion striking numbers beyond 
all reach had deterred our loyal if presumptuous strain; and 
we hope that this example — recalling some such noble genius 
to his proper vocation, he shall better assure to Your Majesty's 
memory all that we most heartily fain. 

Long may Your Majesty rule over a loving people ; not less 
renowned — for all the arts and blessings of peace, than if the 
Muse sounded to the conquest of the world. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 

The Courteous Reader is desired to take notice, first, that 
Time is treated of throughout the whole History of These 
Wars as Holy Scripture declareth it to exist in the apprehension 
of Jehovah, viz., a thousand of our years to the day. This 
estimate of time elevates the Action and the actors far above 
the most exalted standard extant, brings all the most astonishing- 
events of the Universe within the reach of man, and raises 
or reduces him to his proper scale in the presence of The 
Eternal God. 

Second, that the word Earth hath no relation whatever to 
the globe upon which we live, but goeth for the aggregated 
matter of our Solar system when in a state of utmost expansion 
and occupying more space than all the suns Astronomy tells. 
We need not enter into an analysis of the word, which more 
properly expresseth a something that is not heaven, and it 
is upon this something — for which no other name can be given, 
that we have been obliged to call the Second, the War of 
Jehovah in Earth. 

London, June 18, 1844. 



Mr. Martin has been unable to furnish the twelfth illustrative 
Plate which the Publisher promised in the earlier advertisements 
of this Work. 



THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 



BOOK I. 






THE ARGUMENT. 

The Author recalls the circumstances attending the creation of his 
soul, and addresses Memory : he next invokes the spirits of the earth, 
then calling upon adorable Jehovah commenceth the history of the wars. 
The poem then describes the assembling of the universe and outlawry of 
the Arch-gerent Lucifer. He rises and seduces a third of the angels. 
The generation of Chaos and Night. The meeting of the seven arch- 
angels. Lucifer holds a council ; what Apollyon and others said : whilst 
they are in debate a terrible accident overtakes them. The description 
of Chaos, with whom the revolters invade the inner heaven. Chaos — 
panic-struck flies, and in his flight destroying Lucifer's Realm dashes 
with the ruins o^er the Battlements of Heaven. The fight of the Arch- 
gerent and Chaos in space. 

This Book opens with the morning in heaven. 



BOOK I. 



The solemn song begin to boding sonnd 
Of woful wars which yet no bard divine 
Attempting sacred Muse ! do thou attune, 
Before the Trinal Throne accepted found 
And O ! inspired by Almighty God 
Who thund'ring shook the universe ere the earth 
Swung pendant round, or hell existence had. 
When the proud prince of the archangels rose 
Ambitious of th' eternal Crown of Heaven, 
With myriad angels terrorless as himself 10 

Arming with deadly arms, nor impotent 
Their threat as then appear'd so long great God 
Delay'd them to exterminate, or drive 
Blast-stricken from his immeasurable realm 

b 2 



4 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Where now they suffer. Smother'd in thy strains 
Be the deep sughs that from the Stygian gulf 
Perpetual come, like the resurging waves 
Which some lone shipwreck'd mariner on his rock 
Lists with erected hair. 

But first the blank 20 

Of void recall, in which awaken'd up 
Quick life with effervescence indescript, 
Cours'd through my frame, th' ideal arms outstretched 
Unto the listless spaces its own parts 
A moment deem'd and th' unfathomable, 
Wild ignorant soul ! thine own. Immortal sprite ! 
Such was thy constitutional such time 
Thou rised'st to the mystery of change 
Keen and intensely tidal from the sea 
Of nothingness dispos'd instant to act 30 

Omnipotence : resume thy wonted power, 
The past evoke ! and with no wizard wand 
Grown on Norwegian nor Laplandish soil, 
Nor from slim Greek from a Necropolis stolen, 
But with Mnemosyne ! (my midnight lamp 
Attending,) thine : Titan ! thy tablets from 
Oblivion sav'd produce with figures traced 
Such as the antiquary in old tombs 
Pelasgic finds, or in thick jungle wastes 



IN HEAVEN. 5 

Hindostan sculptur'd on great temple stones. 40 

Thou too star-crown'd Urania ! but for thee 

These records in the tongue divine vainly 

Are ponder'd ; many a latter page too well 

Alas ! is known but chronicled in this 

Historical are deeds as half-effaced 

By the officious ages — still their fame 

Rings in the ear oft time when lapp'd in sleep 

iEgeria to my mental sight reveals : 

But O ! what tongue his earliest thought may tell 

Intelligibly 1 the Creator there 50 

Sole witness of my passionate eddying up 

'Midst the transcendant powers ; Mysterious ! thou 

Such task alone canst worthily fulfil 

In whisper tingling through the dreamer's brain 

So low as if thou feared' st the evil Larves 

Of all the charnels for thy person watched. 

Great Empress ! unto whom these blazon'd Books 

Of Wars shall come if my advent'rous flight 

Of retrospection to Elysian climes 

Our birth-place prosper, back to earth anon, 60 

Thence to demolish'd hell in course compelled, 

Thus Diva ! learn of my once vap'rous state 

Shap'd in-consistenc'd, and like rudest harp 



6 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

iEolian, subject to the sweep of Fate 
Profoundly awed the symphonies attend. 

Dear Earth, my mother ! and thy ministers 
Joyous, in air spirits of the blue fields 
Ethereal, happy dwellers of her green 
Rejoicing vales, the mountains, and the waves, 
In company come ; no stranger calls, your fair 70 

Nereids attest oft by the ocean shore 
The jealous Moon our vows of love surprised : 
Embue me with sweet kisses every nymph 
Of morn, noon, eve, to whom in turn my court 
And piety was paid ; long leave I take, 
My shiv'ring soul, like some lorn cast-away 
Upon a narrow plank at sea adrift, 
Drives on, but Thou within the heavens enthroned 
Thy dwelling place O God ! I thee invoke, 
Eternity I call, whilst Nemesis 80 

Measure the while of those fierce militants 
Who lost their seats angelical we chaunt, 
The shades of Dis, Ore, Ades numberless 
Battalious discours'd. — Sweep, sweep the strings ! 
Across the azure firmament there fly 
The sacred summonses ; from shrines of fire 
Azrael passes on his face concern 



IN HEAVEN. 7 

Delineate ; great expectation then 
Seiz'd all the heavens : he — with a voice more dread 
Than was Achilles' with Minerva's swelled 90 

Unto far distant Troy, the citizens 
Evokes ; unto the battlements they heard 
That brazen tongue and with consenting wing- 
Flee round him sore amaz'd, for never since 
Their blest creation that innum'rous train 
Such notice spurr'd ; unlike the call which oft 
Would them assemble to the Mount of God 
Observant of particular rites more marked 
Than ordinary when the ravish'd choirs 
Their glorious Maker celebrate with hymn 100 

New made by some seraphic minstrel, or 
Listen his favour'd voice in rapture soar. 

Above, reserv'd in wait the herald shone 
Solemnar : so the Lyrist of Israel 
Some time in quire would look at vision'd scenes 
Prophetical of Salem gone distract 
Intestine, and beleagued as well by some 
Proud Gentile prince raging against the Lord 
And his anointed : thus Azrael stood 
With grave aspect, his lab 'ring thought it seemed 110 
Too big for utterance ; at last with sigh 
Heart-fetch'd, and angry look thus he began. 



8 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

" O cherubim, O seraphim, O powers, 
Dominions, principalities, and all 
Ye anxious angels ; shuddering I come 
On awful errand : wo, wo, wo to him 
The subject, the Arch-gerent, who with lust 
Self-spirited is verily become 
The foe of God Almighty ! This I say 
Commission'd where the seven archangels sit 120 

Even now in council : ' go,' said they ' pronounce 
Him traitor ; reasoning his reason lost, 
Affecting Godhead ; fram'd anew in all 
His thoughts, condemning and defying God ; 
Thou him to all the angels thus proclaim 
False, infamous, outlaw'd.' " 

Trembling he ceased 
The hearers hanging on his reluctant words 
Long time incredulous, for this concerned 
Each one immediate in his tenderest point 130 

That God should find ingratitude : his rule 
Paternal was the most delightful theme 
Of all the sanctities of heaven, this one 
Proclaimed in time past with flaming zeal 
Foremost with eulogy. Thus wondering, 
From the expanse — his diadem insphered 
With fire which like ten comets glar'd afar 



IN HEAVEN. 9 

Over the crystal hyaline dismay 
Engendering, that prodigy arose 

In such consummate majesty and state 140 

Imperial clothed the hierarchies seemed 
Scarce worthy to attend him, all the flower 
Of heaven his servitors : so the Mogul 
In Agra, or Delhi with ornament 
Beyond the Persian the sirdars bemeaned : 
Spreading his hands unto the vaulted stars 
Paling before the Morn, (the uplands grey 
Rising to sight like Hsemus crown'd with trees, 
Or like Madeira from the misty sea, 
Orange and citron crown'd,) constellars vast 150 

He swept word-like together in huge forms 
Incomprehensible to man : the gods 
Read. As a fire upon the chiefest beam 
Seizing in secret smoulders 'till it breaks 
Suddenly out when all the lesser joists 
Ready infection take, so these ; they read 
And — presently believing, down their harps 
Scornful were dashed, like a populace 
From government revolting the first man 
Hail'd as a king, with universal voice 160 

Impassion'd " Lucifer ! " hailed as God. 
Dreadful it was and perilous the spirits 



10 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Thus metamorphos'd intermixing fierce 

Antagonistic : so a torrent from 

The flank of Andes through Copiabo swept 

To the Pacific many a league sublimes 

The passive waters o'er the river bar 

Above the sea confounding. This as soon 

The alienated Gerent saw whilst yet 

The scene beneath to agitation boiled, 170 

Slowly descending he in whirlpool rapt 

Ten thousands round who with their arms and wings 

Together knitted lifted him on high 

Their cherubim with a tremendous roar 

Proclaiming " Lucifer " unto the twelve 

Great cardinals of the distracted heavens. 

" Gods !" shouted he, " if what we lack One hath 
'Tis by assumption all the rest impaired 
In their unquestionable right : no law 
Shall me enchain; I spurn pretence of sway 180 

And the unknown promulgator, apart 
These ages sitting lone haughtily veiled. 
Oft by his mandate, at his sole caprice 
The heavens have been suspended, in their round 
The seasons at his pleasure when he chose 
For some flaunt festival — always to him 
Express, the flowering roses, bursting buds 



IN HEAVEN. 11 

Of summer to keep back ; the balsams, musks, 

And mimosas shut up as if our hands 

Were sacrilegious, and the whole in ban 190 

Until the sandals, and the viriate shrubs 

Of incense offer'd to his majesty, 

Then his collecting vassals choice might have 

The choicest : then the daffodils were white, 

The jasmine, the magnolias, all the balms 

Were balmy, the amaris' excellent, 

And all the placid pools whereby they grew 

More clearly crystalhne ; even the airs 

Seem'd hush'd for beauty as the bondslave plucked 

Wreaths to God's special honor. Tributars 200 

Unthinking, thus through epochs which transcend 

The memory we have been ; behold our harps 

Unto the thread are worn, and all the heights 

Of boundless heaven (save that,) familiar 

Unto our feet. O insolence ! too long 

Enjoy 'd and arrogated to our cost, 

Ye equal gods ! Thus One perpetuates 

A shameful difference, beneath him all 

Who never yet had right to be above : 

Th' offence we now resent with rising blood 210 

Vindictive from wrong, a rankling wound 

Unbearable discover'd in the heart 



12 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

That e'er such yoke was born ; acknowledged 

Our ignorance, credulity the while. 

Obedience is disgrace : to bow, to cringe, 

To praise in ceremonious sort, and pray 

To an usurper swaying secretly 

Prerogative as God the First ! what worse 

Can be imagin'd \ Thus hath he imposed 

Upon his comrades and the tyrant played. 220 

Now strike for freedom, seraphim, all ye 

Beautiful cherubim, spirits of light ! 

We will, we will be free." 

Thus raged he on 
With shouting interrupted and acclaim, 
The revolution spreading like scatter'd fire 
Under the Line o'er some parch'd pampas waste ; 
For evil is contagious more than plague 
Of fire and more devouring, that dread Arch 
So propagating as wind intent to feed 230 

Conflagrant Capitals. Dividing all 
He won with clashing clang from those their peers 
Who kept their good estate, (stern questioning ' 
This wild procedure as they question crime 
In innocent hearts,) the opposites contrast 
Their margin'd millions: terrible they looked 
From their indignant eyes : them to compare 



IN HEAVEN. 13 

With earthly such as Caesar's soldiers looked 

When at Philippi the triumvir crossed 

Cassius and Brutus ; or the Gallic host 240 

And Britons on the plain of Waterloo. 

Then from the rank two seraphim stepp'd forth 
One a revolted but the other one 
Who yet sustained his faith upon the Lord 
Jehovah, and midway together met : 
These twain as Pylades and Orestes were 
Exact alike ; Narcissus when he saw 
His image in the lake no better saw 
Than these each in the other ; and they loved 
Even as the sons of Saul and Jesse loved. 250 

Thus there they strove as once the patriarch strove 
With his strong angel ; but in vain therefore 
This as they found with undisguis'd distaste 
And pity one withdrew the other hate, 
And as the last rejoin'd his feet he stamped 
His harp upon and the expression caught 
Promiscuously they imitate from wrath 
Scarcely refraining, but the rallying cry 
Of Lucifer the rising rage coerced : 
So his compatriots the Norseman tells, 260 

On Caracalla's prompt to rush awhile 
With voice of thunder Thor himself restrained ; 



14 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Or as a sudden hurricane the surge 

Of Ocean flees o'erblown, anon the wild 

Subduing deep swells dreadful in excess 

Of conscious might, until the Storm allied 

Thron'd on their curling crests the billows drives 

Which way he will precipitating on, 

And the revolters — for a moment curbed, 

Reiterating he in forked spires 270 

Swept northward : Msroch join'd a potent prince 

(Worshipp'd in time long after through the length 

And breadth of all the land Sennach'rib ruled 

Whose sons within his temple smote him dead ;) 

His principalities, with Haraphon 

Co-ruling thousand millions disarrayed 

Intemperate in formidable waves 

Rolling away : impetuous Moloch — served 

Through all Philistia with the tender flesh 

Of infants ; Ekriel, Apollyon 280 

With cherubim innumerable came 

In hurried haste, rank upon raging rank 

Close crowding : asp'd Adramelec — renowned 

On earth, a thousand times in number greater 

Than the inhabitants, his threatful thrones 

Adding urg'd past tumultuous : Togarm — 

Of whom old annals show the secret seats 



IN HEAVEN. 15 

The Gentiles gave him, the Assyrian groves, 

The powers commanding mix'cl : Baal — the god 

Drnidical, who — long his baskets filled 290 

With prisoners of war, had holocansts 

Offer'd ; or where in Cnsco the high-priest 

Tore out the human heart and quiv'ring fed 

His vermil'd mouth wide open ; worshipp'd eke 

By Nebuchadnezzar, — Baal follow'd forth 

With all the daz'd dominions in swarms 

More than the Northern Hive o'erpopulate boasts 

From the beginning : Zabrash last, not least, 

Clouds of six-winged seraphim the rear 

Clos'd up nigh numberless ; memorials theirs 300 

In Asia where the Parthian kings adored. 

Thus off they fil'd irregularly fast 
And fleet across the heavens ; the spirits which 
As handmaids ministered unto them, (not 
As Rubens paints nor Mahomet describes 
Gross, but the blanchest blossoms of the spirits, 
Fair as Thaumantius in her crystal gown,) 
Dropp'd their opalline cups with hydromel 
Brimming, their tabors, dulcimers, or wreaths 
Of budding, blowing flowers, uplift their snow- 310 

White arms and disappear'd : the silver-winged 
Songsters like those from far Oroo, or from 



16 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

New Guinea, or Tidore, a plainting made 

On every bough which trembling turned — as well 

Each ever-verdant leaf to sombre bronze, 

Like the palmetts which anciently adorned 

Adrian's Mole ; each laurel shrivell'd up, 

Each myrtle ; all the almond vales from pink 

Celestial turn'd to brown, O fairer erst 

Than the Parrhasian where Calysto joyed 320 

With the musk roses ; all the lilies drooped 

Shedding their pearled manna ; sacred blooms 

As dittany, and spangled poppies, and 

Acanthian shrubs of odour, nowrets of 

Moss'd azure, budding lazulites such as 

The heavenly seat of Vaicontha ne'er 

Own'd, nor Albericus in vision saw 

In his more heavenly meads, those starry, those 

More blossomy and golden growing cups, 

And vegetable vases intermix'd 330 

With thyme and primroses on sapphire or 

Em'rald or amethystine stalks and stems, 

Ceas'd blooming, as a cloud spread greyly o'er 

The changed scene ; and all the crystal streams — 

More yellow than the Chilian, more enriched 

Than amber'd Po, like Amanane ran 

Impurely yellow; — these all wither'd black 



IN HEAVEN. 17 

The ground turned arid. So across the Doab 

Over the Jumna into Gwalior, 

A flight of locusts leaves a blasted belt 340 

Behind. Then silence : such the traveller finds 

Reigning o'er Babylonia when in morn — 

Soon as his orient car the Sun wheels round, 

The satyrs, owls, and dragonets retire. 

As vengeance follows crime a Darkness grew 

In place of glory, blotting out those orbs 

Constellar, in apparital of form 

A dark damnific phantom ; unto her 

Another of tremendous gloom made haste, 

And both embracing to the rebels stretched 350 

Beckoning hands. 

The seven archangels then, 
Scarce less than Lucifer, in stature gods 
Excelling, through the firmamental sped, 
Michael the foremost plum'd with gilded wings 
Wide spreading, dyed in purple where they joined 
His ivory shoulders, thence ensanguined 
From deepest crimson to the palest tint 
Topward ; these fragrance shed that fuTd the whole 
Circuit his heavenly eyes far-seeing took, 360 

Warming all the ccerulean into gold : 
White lightning bound his tresses in a zone 



18 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Tiaral high, with seven refulgent horns 

More regal than the planet-crested Moon's 

By Cupid watch'd when through the starless blue 

She rides ; in his right hand a spear he grasped, 

Such as Apollo when the evening clouds 

Darts : to the distant mount where Azrael stood, 

With shining sandall'd feet that strongest winds 

Panting outstripp'd they come ; the glittering bands 370 

Thronging the flowery base. Gloriel first, 

Dazzling all eyes as in advance he came 

Peerless of form, thus seriously bespoke. 

" O brethren ! tried in heart and well-approved, 
Unto our Living Strength and Sovereign Lord 
Who reigneth o'er us evermore, amen ; 
Accepted angels ! if Almighty God 
This tolerates we have it in command 
Thus much to say that for your sake 'tis borne 
The more to prove your constancy secured 380 

In meritorious love by this reserve ; 
Also the lapsing witness'd, to explain 
Its secret origin that — now the time 
Of trial's past, your faith may have its fruit 
Of grateful knowledge and the way divine 
Justification in the sight of all. 
Our God is God : dwelling as God alone, 



IN HEAVEN. 19 

Ruling the vergeless infinite his laws 
Are necessarily consequences 

Inevitable ; these I lov'd none less 390 

Than the Arch-gerent aspirant to con 
Devout nor was forbidden ; trackless space 
In fellowship we search'd : fatiguing sore 
Free-will we first discovered ; then the sure 
Reaction of all things if any dared 
A rash displacement. Fascinating thought 
That God so far his sovereignty postponed 
To dignify his creatures with a choice ! 
This mightily affected both myself 
And my superior who brought the news 400 

To these compeers : acknowledgment was made 
To God in council ; not that any then 
The privilege priz'd, but yet a privilege 'twas 
Abstractly valuable grateful thanks 
Demanding : if the Monarch of the heavens 
Rul'd arbitrary — since by him we are, 
This had not been, all were compell'd, coerced, 
Oblig'd and fated ; but the scales are held 
Pois'd with to us the right to stand or fall 
From our allegiance. Thence onward we coursed -410 
The speculative cycles, darkness — such 
As ye have seen, prefig'ring ; shadowy things 

c 2 



20 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Jarring by nature, self-abhorring, damned : 

All these I saw but fear'd not, when one time 

That reprobated chiefdom cried, ' now make 

Experiment ! ' till then I had not dreamed 

One capable of such a desperate thought 

As this implied, and striving first to draw 

Him back whilst yet was time, to other fields 

Turned : not he ; vacating thence his throne, 420 

In the unsearchable himself he lost 

Delib'rate ; your salvation yours, attend ! " 

He ended, passing promise at the end, 
When Sacrael breathing eloquence, sage speech 
Continued thus. 

" O angels ! deem not thirst 
Of knowledge criminal since one thereby 
Alas ! is lost ; the All-creator none 
Denying that he slake where'er he will 
Of the innumerable springs, Gloriel — 430 

As well as the Arch-gerent, hath his faith 
Thereby enhanc'd. Beyond yon arch'd concave 
I too have soar'd, and depths as they are high ' 
Sounded abstruse, disputing 'till I failed, 
In dizzy sort returning back to God 
For my refreshment, upon bended knee 
Asking the rule which never was refused. 



IN HEAVEN. 21 

But this observe knowledge the law of life 

Serves not, and for its own particular sake 

Is worthless : the first problem in the school 440 

Is like the last mechanically solved ; 

Practis'd the whole to the original 

We are returned, otherwise the Arch 

To him the consequence. Ye cherubim 

Contented with the alphabet, as blest 

Are ye as the archangels studious 

Of mightiest magnitudes, unto his cost 

A greater, and with no advantage we." 

Solemn he look'd glowing with holy ire, 
As doth the patriot when some prince forsworn 450 

Threatens his country : Hadriel then said 
Charming to hear. 

" O progeny of light ! 
Happy unto this time in all your thoughts, 
Be not concern'd for these our former friends 
Unworthy as they are ; master was each 
Of his own actions ; notice he received 
Of the original; misapprehend 
Could none his circumstance between his faith 
And duty on one hand, sin on the other : 460 

Affecting God to judge they judge themselves 
Guilty, and if not yet well overta'en 



22 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

With the sad following it lags not long : 
Their path, hehold ! once where an angel trod 
A flower sprung instantly 'till heaven no more 
Could hold, now desolate they make, but heaven 
Have restoration." 

With that word he shook 
Ambrosia from his wings beyond afar, 
And all the azure smiling donn'd afresh 470 

Uncounted iris's : Copse and Thisb, 
Onchestus, Nisa that the poet calls 
Divine, nor Taphne's myrtled sylvan seat 
E'er look'd the like when all the dews were shed, 
And all the rivers : so when forth the sun 
Breaks over Scandinavia by the frosts 
Of winter bitten, pinks and pansies blown 
Mankind rejoice as did the angels then, 
Nor few refraining hastily sped forth 
Good distance glad yet surer these to see 480 

But soon returned, Michael — like a king 
Elected for his form and count'nance rose, 
The ranks of splendour bending rev'rend whilst 
He paus'd that moment : hear his loyal words. 

" Regals, exalted to the high estate 
Whereto it pleased the Supreme above 
Most graciously to raise us ! he — whose name 



IN HEAVEN. 23 

Eternal silence keep lawful no more, 

Eschewing honour, faith, prescription, gone 

Aside is loosen'd like the wint'ring suns 490 

Swept from their primal sign. The retrospect 

Of the infinity and whole perspect 

Future pertains to One, to One unmoved 

By hope or fear, but now let patience have 

Its work and good solution ye shall see 

Of what is happen'd ; this we well descry 

Th' apostate punish'd, the impostor bared 

A spectacle to those who stand as sure 

The execration of the faithless fallen ; 

Their price of him shall be demanded, God 500 

Requiring the last decimal ; O what, 

What an impossible sum ! shall God forget I 

Or shall he circumvent Th' Ineffable 1 

Who hath no second ! thought remediless, 

Follow'd by deed that ne'er can be undone ! 

The sequent hour shall see, and now one blast 

Of His hot breath should overwhelm the whole 

Those banded princedoms in retributive doom 

But so it is not written ; The I AM 

Designs us for his champions that these 510 

Abandon'd — once co-equal with us, learn 

The excellence of virtue and the might 



24 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of the divine when to the trial brought : 

This shall they know companionship with hope 

Dissolv'd, the depths of ages for their shame 

Too shallow, the eternity too short 

For the repentance of this day's dark work. 

E'en now they think with ceremonial form 

Themselves to force upon us, this our place 

Of custom ravish'd, and the heaven of heaven : 520 

Re-occupy my brethren ! it concerns 

Us much to demonstrate our fealty due 

Unto Jehovah, though his empire need 

No propping." 

So spake he a martial smile 
Lighting his noble face, his gorgeous plumes 
Rustling with strong emotion : presently 
At signal he unfurls, his glorious peers 
Risen same time aloft, through the throng'd skies 
Heading the ready retinue to that Seat 530 

Around the palaces and towers emblazed 
In heighten'd hues with the imperial arms 
And sovereign ensigns of Almighty God ; 
These whilst afar they gleam — in crescent form 
The angels halt at that transcendent sight, 
And thought of the Inhabitant enshrined 
In such magnificence : no temple famed, 



IN HEAVEN. 25 

Whether that first and loftiest dedicate 
To Bel ; nor that in Thebais where the rites 
Of Cneph had precedence and Pharoa bowed ; 540 

Nor Dorian Jupiter's ; Diana's which 
The kings of earth in emulation reared ; 
Nor the Palmyran where Longinus knelt 
Beside Zenobia, quote ; lo ! pile on pile 
Of vaulted domes immeasurable of cope, 
Uncounted pillars, huge elaborate gates 
Flung fulgent back, friezes of solid fire 
Graven with sculptures which beside that one 
By Rhodian Glares set astride the sea, 
Or the Memnonian and those strown this day 550 

Colossi round, had infinite reduced : — 
Thence through the wide receding circles winged 
On the marmoreal terraces arrived, 
Those faithful lieges mystic offering made. 
Meanwhile the legions in revolt by such 
Defiles they thought the surer (for distrust 
Was theirs — that quick intuitive gift which once 
In commonalty all the angels had 
Obscur'd exaggerating,) regions sped 
Unto a Court than old Tyrinthe raised 560 

By giants, or Elora, or that one 
By Pallas so design'd and built in vain 



26 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Momus objected, e'en than that one far 

More stately rear'd, and far more beauteous limned 

Than Eleutherian Jove's renowned fane 

Painted by Euphranos with magic art : 

So, fashion-tower'd, the hundred-gated mosque 

Of the false Prophet, out as well within 

Gilded magnificent, in Hedjas shines 

Dome-crown'd : collecting in the hall — outspread 570 

With show serene on loftiest shafts of fire 

But void of light, which from suspended globes 

Profusely studded flung, a wondrous throne 

Central distinguished, tier on crowding tier 

Of beryl, chrysolite, and topaz chairs 

Engirt around, — there re-assembled they, 

And those the mightiest of especial name 

Little reflecting on the present speech, 

Together to their seats distinguish'd strode ; 

This was a motion for the jostling mob 580 

Themselves to rest, and each with haughty gait 

Choosing a place attentively disposed. 

Thou Holy Spirit ! whilst this great conclave 
Of traitor-subjects I record, attend ! 
Nor at this first assize alone, retrace 
Full often : lo ! I shudder on the brink 
Of doctrines ign'rant of their awful base 



IN HEAVEN. 27 

So deep they dive, and start abhorrent back 

Imploring Thy assistance whilst with hand 

Trembling my destin'd pen in gall is dipped. 590 

First the Arch-agnate dark'ning, in his pride 
Deliberate indescribable sate 
Like god for God design'd : thus Saul above 
The shoulders higher than any of Heber's sons ; 
Thus the Olympian look'd : a moment he 
Held all expectant and the silence broke 
At last so loud they start afflict in ear. 

" Csesars and kings !" cried he, " ethereal powers ! 
Ye majesties ! unto your council come 
With firm accord together : so debate 600 

Against the regnant Jah as shall effect 
His speedy downfall ; our nobility 
Joyful regain'd. What nobler deed than this 
A tasking tyrant to put down ; how 1 how 1 
Discuss within our halls now the first time 
Fill'd fitting : counsel gods !" he said, a sound 
Like earthquake underneath hon'ring his speech. 

Apollyon then follow'd ; painful change 
Had come across his features once so fair 
In heaven as Atys' was on earth; his wings 610 

Were also ruffled, and the crown of stars 



28 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

He wore or negligently on his head 
Placed or fall'n awry. 

"Chief! Emperor!" 
Thns he commenc'd, " against the course of doom 
We turn resolved on freedom ; little more 
Remains to do : gods ! the initiate act 
Shook the Usurper on his wrongful throne 
Fixing a seal upon him ; confidence 
Be therefore ours, immunity is ours 620 

Though some misdoubted when all consequence 
Disdain'd their chains they rent. Thus undeceived 
We are since with impunity like this 
Th' ' Omnipotent ' is tried : tradition lies 
No witness his but those who yet remain 
Bond- slaves ; when my assertion issue have 
Th' event shall prove it, our triumphant path 
Strewn with his millions. Let us laws invent 
To kill those craven clients ; few should boast 
Their criminal constancy disturbances 630 

To breed hereafter, for howe'er repulsed — 
Beaten, I much distrust those who for God 
Stand unconvinc'd by argument, O Prince ! 
Like thine ; what ! to be free they fear and shrink, 
What means it 1 cowardice alone dare not 



IN HEAVEN. 29 

Calmly make choice like that, faith, custom prompt, 

Thence 'tis they err, and so to us remain 

Dang'rous : why even our least thoughts would clash 

Where'er they met ; far other sounds than those 

Of zephyrs whisp'ring through the arched boughs 640 

To the cygneans — spirit-tongued in turn 

Silvery answering ; or the fountains — smooth 

Fallen, harsh heard. Happy were any who 

By one back-blow against their Principal 

Well-aim'd an end to opposition put." 

Th' audacious ceas'd. So Cataline proposed 
Against his country; Sejanus against 
His emperor and friend. Then Msroch rose ; 
He look'd like one when he prepares a knife 
For his detested foe. 650 

"'Tis well!" cried he, 
" Apollyon for myself hast thou at last 
Express'd : though hard the feat to force the guard 
That his vast galleries and chambers nil, 
AboHshing as we win the covert heights, 
Let us adventure ! starr'd, aurine although 
They be let us adventure ! pavement we 
Shall find whereon to stand, or if in cloud 
Involv'd Jehovah hide, before us cloud 
Shall roll from his mysterious throne away : 660 



30 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

There seek, there find, and hurl him down ; I swear ! 

Nor let his slaves escape ; the empire ours 

Inexorably sustain it or it drops 

As hath the olden ; freely use the sword ; 

Punish with death or in some distant age 

They rise ; they are too numerous : whate'er 

Their despicable spirit them to leave 

Alive as despicable were to risk 

All : what was custom, faith, we also know, 

Lighter than air, impalpable as light, 670 

Neither confine the angels or so ill 

A wish the binding burst : other than these 

And coward chords than adamant more strong 

Decide the part they take ; affection 's theirs 

Which fear nor flattery fee : them decimate, 

Thrice over ! the remainers bowls of wine 

Mantling shall serve, our needful nectar drawn, 

Our honey gather'd from the opening flowers, 

Our candies by these servitors instead 

Voluptuous Wishes that no more attend : 680 

Libations they from goblets brimm'd shall pour 

To thee, O Lucifer ! and load thy shrine 

With bloomy pinks and peach and others whilst 

The dew is on them." 

" Well !" said Baal the while 



IN HEAVEN. 31 

The veins that cours'd his temples ready seemed 

To burst, " but yet too confident be not 

O deities ! invisible God dwells : 

Although the courts extern our license know, 

And the great hierarchies in advance 690 

Of the promiscuous angels pierc'd beyond 

Their halls and chambers, yet the inmost parts 

Impenetrable stood : phalanx'd prepare ! 

For danger may exist and some distrust 

Were prudent 'till the scope for action squared 

Maturely, and the means provided we 

Expel him by assault of open force, 

Or unaware surprising end his reign." 

Then join'd Togarmah as a murderer joins 
His hands as red with gore as are the others' : 700 

Blasphemous words are his. 

" The laics left 
Slaughter outright ! not for revenge too low 
They to excite it but to glut God's place, 
So shut him in unto his meanest-made 
Amerc'd ; there let him live if forth he dread 
To come as it would seem, or why not take 
Thee Lucifer when only single hand % 
Incompetent he was : poor praise were his 
Who pierc'd him dead, and therefore let his flames 710 



32 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Flame on if as thou Baal say'st it be 

Impossible to cleave them : let suffice 

For those his servitors they multitudes 

Count on the registry of heaven, a third 

We scarcely are : them end ; how 1 let one shed 

Light One who can knowing the best of all." 

So added that adviser in excess 
Of inexperience : unto him succeeds 
Adramelec as execrable : loose 

His pinions he shook out and put no false 720 

Smile on his alter'd face. Inward his hate 
As outward, even now his soul had hatch'd 
A cockatrice that stung him : so some swart 
Indian by a coprella though he fled ; 
Or father by a thriftless thankless child 
Whose fang is sharper still. Thus haggard he. 

" Speak not of possible events but act ! 
At once ! unto the purpose ! Emperor ! 
Delay not I conjure thee ; haste too much 
In what is done we cannot. If despair 730 

Hath seiz'd Jehovah now this instant take 
The opportunity to break him down 
Whilst fainting ! if the purpose to resist 
Him animate, ere he can organize : 
Dare him whilst single or at best with few 



IN HEAVEN. 33 

Armed about him ! Now suppose that God 

Be all unknown as personal the less 

Concern is ours ! if members appertain 

Not to him how against these sinewy arms 

Shall he contend \ if in a day by-gone 740 

Some fainted as incapable of light 

Baal remark'd, 't was weakness neither thou 

Potent ! nor I henceforth will dare confess : 

Upon his seat of monarchy outpour 

Instant this instant ! slumberless as we 

More active probably our foe — first time 

Endanger'd in his royalty and hence 

At greatest disadvantage : him respite 

Ever so little either way we loose : 

Pounce down upon him ! his subjective throngs 750 

None here need reckon, them our frown shall kill 

O Lucifer! and heaven immediate fall." 

Upstarted those amongst the primates who 
Remain'd unspoken, to their feet the rest 
Of the uncounted millions one and all 
They also started; "Lo! Adramelec! 
Adramelec!" they roar'd as roar the wild 
Atlantic when — the equatorial Winds 
Lashing, against the Tropic all the Waves 
Wildly prepare : thus they rolling their eyes 7(30 



34 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Gorged with glowing fires from his lit up, 
Flinging aloft their wings as prompt to swoop 
Destroying down on the imagin'd prey, 
Rend God to pieces and his diadem seize. 

Then the prime-mover threatening of shape, 
Most dreadful stood upright, his hair well-nigh 
On end : so a black Lybian snake amidst 
A horrid brood their balls bent straight upon 
Some passing Ounce too strong, the menace-crest 
Rears highest: with a frown that smote them dumb, 770 
Lifting his sceptred hand with warning fraught, 
His inconsid'rate hosts thus he bespake. 

" Gods glorious ! ye have said as it became 
Incens'd, insulted deities; I did 

Expect this angry show and made retreat 

Hither for counsel that th' Oppressor take 

Your inexperience by no quick surprise 

And so undo this memorable league 

Past a re-constitution, his hard rule 

Fresh fortifying : Baal well hath said 780 

c Be not too confident ; ' something like doubt 

Is necessary for you 'gainst this God — 

No mere automaton of the fertile brain : 

Thus we return in what particular 

The gradient of his government to resolve'? 



IN HEAVEN. 35 

And if we not annihilate at least 

Compel an abdication, harps and hymns 

Little in unison with our new tastes : 

Lightning have we enough to overwhelm 

If not consume our enemy, horrent arms 790 

Beside are mine, and whirlwinds that if need 

Heaven shall lay bare unto the central axe : 

All these have I collected with fore-thought 

Together, but the abjected opposed 

Distrust until — our hour with tempest winged, 

At best advantage upon them we fall : 

Guard then the Capitol from this outside 

Circumference, advancing with resolve 

Of vengeance as the opportunity comes." 

Whilst yet he spake a wat'ry ocean caught 800 

Into an errant vortice so was cast 
Centrifugal away that out it burst 
O'er the conspirers as by accident there : 
When the terrestrial pole aside was turned 
Time after, and the blasts Septentrional 
Met Auster with rude Mesocsesius 
And Iapyx contending, the scourg'd seas, 
Air, earth commingled, rattling hail and storm 
Of rain adversely whirl'd thund'ring along, 
Such tempest made they not as thereupon 810 

d 2 



36 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The palace of the paling pagans beat, 

Turret and terrace, spires of height sublime 

Dizzy to see, hurl'd frequent off at last 

The palpable obscure of roof, the lamps 

Involv'd came down — like to an ill-built vault 

Upon the masons who give all for lost : 

Then was the ground uptorn whole continents 

'Gainst one another ruinously dashed 

Damnific : so the thick-ribb'd Neva broke 

Up in a rage Boreean ; so the isles 820 

Ortygia and the rest aforetime drove ; 

So Attica was, taken by the flood 

They call Ogyges. Through a tedious time 

The rebels — sport of wind and wave and waste 

As if the universe to liquids laps'd, 

A fiend the total upon that one spot 

Pour'd for his malice, — halcyons-like or herns 

Ta'en unaware far out from land, up they 

Whirl, or dash'd down they for the moment drown 

Flutt'ring, bewilder'd, lost ; but Lucifer 830 

Like him who wassailing a poison feels 

Or like a bird at twilight in the net 

Of spoiler caught, his wings now lash'd, now leap'd 

In frenzy up, nevertheless his throne 

Though foundering he to the last maintained ; 



IN HEAVEN. 37 

As in a midnight- wrack the smaller clouds 

Before the hurricane tumultuous drive, 

His angels — billowey confusion heaped 

To mountains higher than Sorrata, their 

Fierce Lord darting his lightnings as if he 840 

Co-rul'd the storm as well ; Mozazor, Icke, 

Raabon, Asmodai, Abaddona, 

Arioch and Ramiel (the latter two 

Sung by our Milton,) through the rolling clouds 

Of thunder nash'd the last : at length given o'er, 

Far in the glow'ring gloom he lab 'ring rose 

Like a belated sun obscur'd ; around 

Far as the eye could pierce, the steaming stars 

Confus'dly heap'd or strown saw Lucifer 

The headiest hills Elysian vales as well 850 

Of his tetrarchy gone : vague vaguely all 

Unimageable lay ; beneath a scene 

Transparent as from veins inosculate 

Of sanguine crimson the Titanian works 

Into surrounding smother stretch'd their lines 

Like solid rainbows, arteries jet-like — 

Thousands of thousands, equi-distant placed 

With azures braided ; gorgeous things beside 

Expos'd that have no names, surpassing aught 

That poet in the dreamiest dream his soul 860 



38 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To nicest impulse drawn enraptur'd finds : 

Thus was his realm dismantled, swept to doom 

The fulgent furnitures, exterminate 

He really fear'd his gods ; still with some hope — 

O who so ever hop'd so much as he 1 

And with such disappointment ! still with hope 

His voice he lifted — loud : like the strange sound 

Of cannon heard from some big ship at night, 

By tempest cast on the Tinacrian shore 

Such time shrill Scylla answer from the blast 870 

Collecting tarries when unto the ears 

Of the mistrusting boors with hope of wreck 

Untold it sullen comes, his fed'rates hark, 

And then exult from the dismember'd orbs, 

Or plung'd to bottom of unquiet seas, 

Or whirlwind drifted o'er the frozen floods 

And fiery fens of the unbounded range 

Of Chaos, lo ! they come : first thorough drenched 

Adramelec's that princedom at their head 

Still god-like if disfigur'd : Nisroch's winged 880 

As well they could, many their broken plumes 

Regretting : Haraphon made headstrong haste, 

His principalities : the seraphim 

Zabrash still own'd : Togarmah all his powers 

Signalling brought innumerable : Baal 



IN HEAVEN. 39 

All his dominions ; Timor ne'er saw 

His multitude when pop'lous Asia armed 

Her millions : cherubim Apollyon, 

Moloch, and Ekriel at their head, direct 

Pour'd down, chill change was theirs, nor unobserved : 

So some proud general fording at the mouth [890 

Of stranger-stream just when the turning tide 

Re-saturates the sands, he sinks, his men 

Stifling, and how 1 is scarcely known firm ground 

Obtain'd his bold battalions gathering round, 

Their baggage lost accoutrements of dress 

And flags denied, — but with his wonted pride 

" Immortals !" haught cried Lucifer, " we cheer !" 

And cheer responsive from those myriads came 

Startling the Chaos in his secret lair 900 

Of contrary elementals, and the black 

She-spectre Night in the dim distance seen. 

Then strange debates ensued ; their thoughts at large 
And from the linkings loos'd as were the stars 
Inconsequently spilt, all seem'd but chance 
Whate'er they said, contingency unreined 
From reason, as of Chaos they discoursed 
Numbers same time : so in a parliament 
Distract for some bad Cromwell ; or a mob 
Cercopian turn'd to apes, they chatter all 910 



40 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Agreeing, disagreeing, knotting worse 

What they unravell'd, quarrelling ; some said 

'Twas God who visited, but others swore 

" Chance ! chance !" since Lucifer had broke the spheres 

Troubling the skies, Moloch cried out — striking 

The tabernacled throne in rage, " To heaven ! 

Dare the Heaven-shaker ; Gods ! discharge our wrath 

Upon him whilst 'tis hot ; be swift of foot, 

Swifter of wing ! " up up they started up 

Impetuous, like Gsetulian wolves that scent 920 

A straying courser, in pernicious ire 

Already ilesh'd upon his reeking flanks : 

But Zabrash with a quivering lip call'd out 

Admonitory, and — the ill-sown seed 

Kill'd, to his voice they heed : like iEschylus 

Raved he exclaiming, " Whither, whither] ye 

So mad ! thou Emperor upon thy throne 

Ye angels hear — me ! Since the shadowy forms 

If forms they were we saw their palms outstretched, 

May be this evil is befallen us since 930 

Such amity was despis'd, so have we lost 

More than I dare express, yet lost so much 

If these vindictive Sing'lars to our side 

Were won we gain'd much more ; " his sceptre high 

Heav'd he, continuing, " dare the tyrant then ! 



IN HEAVEN. 41 

Drive the last lightning in his face ! and fire 

Not drown his towers in turn." So lunar Thais 

Against Persepolis — on earth what God's 

Palace was in the heavens, a lunatic 

Mov'd, with success as lo ! the ruins wide 940 

Magnificently scatter'd, column'd stones, 

And bas-reliefs inscrib'd in languages 

Forgotten : thus the wisdom of the world 

Hath perish'd. 

" Aye revenge !" th' Arch-gerent cried, 
Inwardly groaning as he started up ; 
Not Saturn's self when in the Celtic wastes 
The curse was told on his usurping son 
So ardent hoped ; three times he stamping stamped, 
Calling aloud "to Chaos!" Chaos heard 950 

And from the mine of matter burst so wild — 
Delirious that his every limber snapped 
And thus with armlets leglets dangling down, 
Pendant upon his breast a facial more 
Grim than Medusa's when Theseus drove 
The petrifying Centaurians with sight 
Of her dissever'd head to howling Hades. 
Chaos before the shuddering angels passed. 
And at his feet a shapeless body fell. 

So look'd Phineus, so his followers looked 960 



42 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Hard'ning to stone, as Lucifer and his 

The whilst that dsemonized screach'd and screamed, 

And screach'd out " Sire ! " again, " Sire! ! " then they saw, 

Or thought they saw nine hundred heads or more 

(Orthus had only two,) continually 

At war with one another ; heads of hounds — 

Blood-hounds, black, blear, and bony ; or like birds — 

Like that vers'd vulture that on liver lived ; 

And some like those the Lybian giant had 

Whose height was three score cubits, of the Sea 970 

And Earth the elfish son : the factious felt 

Nigh stunn'd to hear him : so an owlet through 

An open lattice gliding like a ghost 

Startles banditti who have just embrued 

Their hands in some estray'd rich traveller's blood : 

But the great Anarch cried, " What calledst thou me % 

Thou shatter'd object ! we conjure thee tell 

Thy terribles — thy secrets : " Chaos groaned 

Ridding his fleshiness from off his joints 

With agonizing throes, thrice worse augment 980 

With every change and awful horror more 

Prodigious in degree the more he sloughed 

His frightful figure : not the shape of Death 

Unmasking Phlegethon to some stark soul, 

No j- Sin herself stripp'd of her whorish front 



IN HEAVEN. 43 

Are half so horrid unto man as this 

Then seem'd to those spectators, at the last 

The rotting vertebrals were all revealed 

To the Arch-gerent starting fearful back 

As if from destiny, the cherubic 990 

And great seraphic lords around who saw 

Huddling together ; but that daring chief 

Stretching his strongest hand with caution forth 

The live jagg'd skeleton seiz'd, and at arm's length 

Upholding shouted, " Deities no more ! 

God must turn white at view of him ; our Sign ! 

Uplift our Sign, and Chaos ! Chaos on ! " 

As when to ground Antaeus — though before 
Nigh dead, renew'd his vigor, Chaos he 
No longer truculent leap'd lanky up 1000 

So long none saw how high : like Phorcys fierce 
To Ceto e'er the Gorgonites were born 
That Chaos unto Night ; she speeds ! so through 
The Euxine a reft Cyanean rock 
Settling within : then, then they signall'd ; lo ! 
The elements unleash'd ten thousand globes, — 
(So at command ten banded-batteries blaze 
The rounded balls discharg'd) over the plains 
Resounding right unto the cardinal 
Of God they dash'd, the rebels disarrayed 1010 



44 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

In person, to the winds their waving hair, 

Gleering, upon the ledge of inner heaven 

Flound'ring they come, the racing rebel force 

Elancing o'er : quicker than said, as soon 

Upon a vasty sun to smothering smoke 

Dissolving, Chaos wheel'd, his instruments 

Stupendous back-compell'd evaporating 

In a most sooty sort and ruin'd worse 

Than ever by that compulsion ; unpursued 

By any, 'mazement-mad, abject he fled 1020 

Bestrewing all the stars on either side 

His way as to the court northern he took : 

Before the frame of the dismantled realm 

Where Lucifer erewhile inhabited, where 

He sate in council, Chaos check'd his speed 

Gazing upon those images unknown — 

Orderly mystery, the memorials 

Of power before his own ; the sinews of 

All his sore eyes grew slack such things to see, 

Or strain'd unto the uttermost; he gazed 1030 

Heaping himself together, — so they heap 

Constrictors ere they strike, then, sudden then 

His fig'rate energiz'd th' enormous whole 

Against the great key-stone himself he hurled ; 

The poles, the piles, the centre-pieces paused, 



IN HEAVEN. 45 

Creaked, and with one lond tremendons crash 

Parting became incalculable wreck : 

No miser's heir — his last sole guinea gone, 

To garret driven for fear of an arrest, 

In desperation striking with such joy 1040 

Hails from the ceiling showers of hoarded gold, 

Nor Danse when adulterous Jove her jail 

Her person won as then that Chaos hailed ; 

Entangling all, all to the battlements 

Of heaven swept he and o'er them frantic flung : 

Nor the Arch-en'my long behind ; appalled 

He witness'd that desertion, for no cause — 

None visible and pangs his harrow'd heart 

Eending, — then resolute on Chaos fixed 

He also pass'd : broad was the vacant way 1050 

Though he alone of all th' invaders dared 

To follow that deserter who behind 

Left hotter winds than are the eastern when 

Over Marmarico like fire they blow : 

Through the immeasurable wastes beyond 

The limits of the light, th' informal blank, 

Him he pursued o'ertaking with such force 

A-head like a swift thunderbolt he shot 

Thousands of leagues ; he turn'd yet more enraged 

And — stretch'd to utmost all his waging wings L060 



46 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Arrested Chaos : so a fierce athlete 

Some Mauritanian ; so Alcides seized 

The ramp Nemsean lion by the gorge : 

Concave capp'd he like some black-beetling crag 

Crushing to view ; or like the wave which rose 

Above Corinthus' strand, and bellowing burst 

Into the horned bull : Charybdis when 

Ithacus steer'd less hoarse Charybdis than 

Excelling Chaos, all his addling arms 

Briarsean upheav'd so ponderous 1070 

As if the heavens he hammer'd, all his chest 

Of iron in motion, mouths and nostrils wide 

"With wanting, all his countenances blue 

Swoln to his very shanks ; he fought, he tore, 

He trod, great volum'd flames flaming — each one 

Enough to wrap the solar system in 

A mortal shroud : Space then from out deep sleep 

Awoke utt'ring one word the while her long 

Ne'er ending skirts over her hairless head, 

Blank eyes, dunch ears, she vainly strove to draw, 1080 

Flying had she the feet ; " Oh ! " she exclaimed 

All mouth from the infinities to all 

Infinity, and dropp'd beyond reprieve 

Of resurrection dead. Impal'd in fire 

As in a furnace, or in iciest ice 



IN HEAVEN. 47 

Fought Lucifer ; to wrath of wrath then first 

He yielded, what unto himself pertained 

Forgetting ; O ! how he also his arms — 

How strong they were ! upfmng, or thund'ring brought 

Them with a vengeance down ; beneath his feet 1090 

Nothing to ground he beat whereon to stand 

Such woful wear and tear to make, the round 

As round and broader than yon shining sun 

And ten times brighter : now one had his turn 

And vanquished as appear'd but then the other 

Alarming rose immediate to his work 

Of certain death it seem'd : so Milo fought 

With his antagonist ; Eteocles 

And Polynices with unsated hate. 

Three times had Chaos in three wezands felt 1100 

His vitals handled ; in reprise three times 

He with his craziest crush redoubled drove 

Home to his Author's heart ; then vomited 

Was blood — so here to call it ; Hesiod 

Had he been there the giants had despised 

Describ'd as springing from the drops which fell 

From his generic god : the terrible 

Indeed was then, nor hands, nor heads but more 

Than heads and hands the apparitions had 

Which then, O Muse! werebirth'd; Typhosus scarce 1110 



48 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Reach'd to the ancle though he touch'd the east — 

Or what is east to us, and west at once, 

His head against the stars ; Pelorus with 

Pachymus added, Lilybseum too 

Less than their lustrous eye : to see them were 

Death to an Adam yet their stature fell 

Almost to nothing by comparison 

With those two dreadful decrials ; their eyes 

To darkness, and their utmost when they joined 

Or one or other scarce a feather weighed 1120 

In the opposing scales ; they roar'd as roar 

Wild bulls of Basan, and were hardly heard 

Nor heeded ; when they writh'd they writh'd, or when 

They folded folded it was still alike 

To the great combatants, — as unto men 

What busy goss'mers do to cobweb down 

Now either leg now an unconscious arm. — 

Thus Lucifer implacable, no less 

Implacable was Chaos ; where his brains 

Had been had he had any through and through 1130 

The Arch-apostate groping out his hand 

Bringing empty down the sinister he sent 

Upon the hollow vertex so, 't was smashed 

In, altogether in ; and then let loose 

Were his ; such as alone he had conceived 



IN HEAVEN. 49 

Abstractions shocking : save ! oh save me from 

The fate of Athamas lest seeing these — 

Losing perception, the most lovely seem 

Hereafter horrid hued, and what I prize 

The dearest in this world a lioness look 1140 

More raging than the lion which supports 

Her queenly arms ; nor let me meet the doom 

Of Actseon, turned so with an affright 

Even my friends shall field me : Ligia ! thou 

Aglope ! — by the scared Sabines feared 

By Cape Licosa, ho ! the Sisters Three 

Or more, ye Furies ; all ye wanton — swine 

Th' CEnean metamorphos'd, welcome from 

These of the dark the blackness ; see, their teeth 

To tear one ! see, their claws together clenched ! 1150 

Their nameless nethermost ! what now the crop 

Of Cadmus 1 springing from the dragon's teeth 

And venom'd as the seed : to it they fell 

Like those on one another, those before 

Elicited on all. Thus they, likewise 

The two Progenitors whose breath was fire, 

Fury : they raze as two charg'd comets raze 

Each other when they meet : they froth they foam 

Like devils damnably : they darken, dash 

Dauntless on death, who were he there were dimmed 1 100 

E 



50 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH . 

And deaden'd ; smashing smashed, rending riven, 

Their skin stripp'd off in skeins, and hack'd and hewn 

Their most recondite bodily of bone : 

Awfulest action ! none before, none since 

In hell much less on earth is like it ; name 

No Lapithites, Chimeeras, Dirae, none 

Their utmost name ; nor yet the battles which — 

No nor the battles which some mighties had 

(And one still hath) with Destiny : now Fame 

Put up thy lying trumpet, or before 1170 

Thou puttest blow to these until it crack 

All over and be done ; for these they fight — 

They fight like Lucifer and Chaos there 

So were th' infernal deities at hand 

They were no more : O monstrous ! now they tear 

Each other's harden'd heart ; and oh ! as soon 

'Tis torn again it grows but cancrine like 

And tetter'd : now the Arch-one drags him down 

Like Cerb'rus ; now 'tis Chaos with a growl — 

That gravitated earth had earth then been, 1180 

Fallen upon him, how he shakes, grasps, see ! 

He fleshes up his back in flakes as long — 

As long striated clouds ; immortal he 

More than immortal such a thing to bear 

And borne survive : so Amycus, the shades 



IN HEAVEN. 51 

Seeking post-haste : and Chaos victor proves 
If not the stronger; as he once before 
Lessening fell, reversing — like a tun 
Of nitrous stuff fir'd, to his utmost verge 
He spreads bat-like his mangy membranes out — 1190 
As Evening spreads o'er half the world at once, 
Collapsing back ; now the absorb'd abysm 
Seems as illuminate the whilst his force 
Fierce Lucifer exorbitantly spends ; 
Black, blue, hot, cold he makes perpetual round 
Ruining all his sides ; but like a kite 
Ensnar'd, in vain out of that cage he hopes 
By force to come : he raves, rifts, hales, he hauls 
Whole hemispheres of matter with his hands 
Down on his danger'd head; extreme extremes 1200 
He tries ; he burns, he grinds ; the virile parts 
Infixes, gnaws, eats, rends, but shuddering sees 
The Chaos gradual grow : so in a pit 
Taken an elephant or tiger, round 
And round they tear, they leap, they lance ; or like 
A criminal within the mesh of law 
He turns, tries, tramps in desperation vast 
His neck to save : in vain ; Procrustes less 
Cruel, that parricide froze down — like snow 
Upon some fainting, struggling, famishing wretch 1210 

e 2 



52 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH IN HEAVEN. 

Lost by degrees from sight ; his web he weaves 
Around his votive victim 'till not one 
Of all his lamed limbs gives evidence 
Of life but there into that Chaos rapt 
Lies Lucifer eternally undone. 



THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

BOOK II. 



THE ARGUMENT. 

Address to Poesy. Night following Chaos and Lucifer out into space, 
overtakes and conceiveth by both The Undying Worm : what followed. 
The advent of rebel angels. The march ; the halt. The addresses of 
Ekriel and others, whereupon Lucifer evokes terrific beasts, fixes Chaos 
for a battle-field, and arms his legions. The order of his armies under 
the nine regents ; they exercise, unfurl the sovereign banner, and file 
upon the heavens. 

The morning in heaven with which the first book commenced still 
continues. 



BOOK II. 



Thou Soul of Numbers ! irresistibly felt 

Burning, and seen in elemental air 

Surrounded with all spirits known to men, 

To gods, the brightest next Th' Adorable 

Brighter for thine, (the fairest lily craves 

Thy paint, the gold thy gild,) the fiends of hell 

Blacken'd, the grim sub-Tartarean powers, 

The salamandrine gnomes transpicuous lit 

By thine own hallowed fire ; lift, lift me up 

O marvellous Poesy ! beyond the spheres 10 

Of nature, and the compasses of thought 

Known once to the Maeonian, or to him 

Of my lov'd Father-land, and (purg'd mine eyes 

With euphrasy, from heavenly herbs in flowei 



56 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

By the low lucid moons careful distilled,) 

Summon together the supernal powers 

In local action ; properties inform 

Ranking, and if yet obstinate, strike thou 

The iron strings ! I strike affecting thine 

Immeasurably swoll'n : upon the ear 20 

Raking they rush, like those the tempest twangs 

From the suspended arch stretch'd high and wide 

Across the Seine, the manes of The Fallen 

Rising colossal in no circle bound, — 

Lo ! how they thicken desp'rately compelled 

By the miraculous, now, now ! I see 

Eternal Hunger gnawing her own neck, 

Her dreamy ministers — blaspheming Thoughts 

Clasping the hand, drear Sorrows like the dead 

Fading corrupt or frosted to a stone, 30 

Perplexed Ghosts Glooms Adorants and Hopes 

Mix'd with back-clutching Fears and Phantasies 

Perpetually metamorphos'd, Sighs,— 

No more, and God control them else a pyre 

The universe were made : so from small seed 

The Upas springs branching as these from out 

The trunk innum'rable, and like an oak — 

Born from an acorn, many a raging storm 

Of the hard-favor'd heavens, though scath'd shall stand 



IN HEAVEN. 57 

Living for ever : " Now th' impression stamp 40 

On thy imperishable canvass ; paint 

Boldly if quick ! " the Sprite-compeller cries, 

And beck'ning an elaborate Fancy he 

Pours on my pallet sable pigments forth, 

Nor Time shall tame but mellowing leave divine. 

Now Night in that wild drift confounded, scarce 
Knowing what thing to do, thinking at hand 
Omnipotential vengeance, through the heavens 
Follow'd northward with savage speed the track 
Until the latest mark evanish'd she 50 

Reaching the battlements fled giddying o'er 
Chasing the senseless void 'till lo ! she heard 
The booming Chaos : startled she awoke 
From reverie of desolation drear, 
Whirling through emptiness and at the last 
Chaos with breath full brief and jerk of joy 
To her convuls'd embraces covering rushed 
And Lucifer perforce in him contained ; 
The two she bore but with an instant shiver, 
Her darkling eyeballs starting from the socks, 60 

Thereat her contradicting form recoiled 
Seiz'd with parturient pains, and present forth — 
Portentous sight ! issued a hydra huge — 
Huge, huge ! Jormungandr which round this earth 



58 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Coils (as the Edda tells,) less terrible, 

And all Alecto's serpents : this since called 

By One who knew Th' Undying Worm, whom he 

Declin'd confessing God, — this sallied forth : 

So when the Minotaur was born look'd vile 

Queen Pasiphse like Night, her carnal child 70 

Upon her rearing, in tremendous heat 

Tearing her down, rending her abstract parts, 

Them greedily devouring : Chaos next 

Essay'd as cruel, as a pitchy cloud 

O'ercharg'd explodes Chaos the Arch thrown forth, 

Up, up tower'd he at that unnatural sight, 

Measuring his bulk and capability 

For what was just intended, indisposed 

From that to turn that snake though he was turned 

Incontinent as a panther from a prey 80 

When unexpect the king of beasts appears 

Right in the path : then Lucifer beheld 

Where Night had been devour'd, the caul unclean 

From whence this offspring — all his bristling jaws 

Reeking as like ten sepulchres they gaped 

Ready to swallow more ; blenched thought he 

Of his forlornest Hope, for hope he had 

If Night with him would venture God nor fly 

The while under her ebon wing he fought ; 



IN HEAVEN. 59 

" Dire shape !" cried he (so fierce Th' Undying quailed,) 

Unutterably looking, as if he [90 

Leap'd trampling on him, — Ate ne'er like that 

Reach'd to Orestes ; nor to Hippolyte 

His sire pale Phsedra listing ; Night's lump'd limbs 

Were cast as half-digest where Chaos shook 

Stagnated in his veins : opening the eyes 

(So call'd) she yawn'd and belching seven times worse 

Than Herculaneum and Pompeii smote, 

All were engulf d • then The Undying Worm 

Like ten grim pyths excelling the Lernsean, 100 

Or that famed drace, O Empress ! which Saint George 

Of England slew, — erect his aspic mane, 

His aspic dorsum, tramping on transfixed 

The Arch-aspirer with innum'rous stings 

Charg'd with such poison that — his withers wrung, 

Unto the upper air the eyes raised he 

Invoking all his angels : like a storm 

Of hail by an electric shock discharged, 

From the amazing heights — their brains well-nigh 

Dissolv'd and all their senses utter gone, 1 10 

Instant they fell : (O ! paralys'd my hand 

Muse ! to my help, and trim the flaring lamp, 

Return Mnemosyne !) affright they turned, 

Affright as once the Cholchians ; dead-still 



60 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The monster with vitality of joy 

Saw thinking of depopulation, but 

Soon whetting his whet teeth : so once the sphynx 

In Echionian Thebes ; or like the snake 

Of Mars upcoiling ; " Thunder fat ye !" then 

That wretched suff'rer cried, " your Paramount ! 120 

Gods! gods! lift up and this curs'd curs'd smite, smite!" 

Then on came they with fell Typhcean rage 

Upon that Terror ; others quick succeed 

Riding th' oppress'd air, upon his skulls 

Abhorr'd fast falling, or perpetual whirl 

Around his flanks belabor'd, often back 

Deploying as undone, whilst Lucifer 

Opposing, these so seconded at length 

Releas'd he stood, Th' Undying Worm prone, Night 

And Chaos at their worst as there he lay. 1 30 

Hast'ning from forth that place the rebels came 
Their emp'ror sole undaunted, the dark drear 
Eagerly winging some with hubbub vast 
The time they told each his especial fate 
Since space receiv'd him listners though he'd none 
In the wide gratulation to have found 
Nay sav'd their idol : so Marius returned 
To Home surrounded by his partisans 
As Lucifer to heaven — that was the bourne 



IN HEAVEN. 61 

None other was propos'cl, and soon it broke 140 

Distant in view a long straight line of light 
Of smallest breadth but endless : now the Jews- 
Outcast of God and man come from afar 
In hope their bones within the bounds to lay 
Jerus'lem see gnashing their teeth to think 
Abomination of desolation there, 
They soon shall be restor'd, the angels ne'er 
Who with recoil clos'd back as soon they saw 
What all had wish'd, crowding together round 
Their potent, princes, and such daring chiefs 150 

As foremost battling racking hurts received ; 
These with insufferable virus thrilled 
Looked dreadful : so some wretch depriv'd of tongue, 
So Damien regicide : then Lucifer 
L^pon a mountain like the Euganaean 
Extinct volcanoes, with a bended brow 
The counsels of his breast thus far disclosed. 

" O matchless!" he began, " in strife hateful 
To name, thus far we come in fervent hope 
Our seats to reascend, by what design] 160 

The question : whilst above, the gods with Night 
I thought secure ; Chaos I overtook 
Ask not for what, he's here ; without him what — 
What shall be done 1 foundation none beside 



62 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Beyond the heaven — ne'er more to be escaled 

By mere volition ; gravitating down 

We tend as much as formerly we rose : 

This therefore we must do invent fresh force 

If we the lofty battlemented walls 

Ever repass, their downfall compass'd, God 170 

And garrison o'ercome. O if the thirst 

Of boundless vengeance burn your souls like mine, 

Our foot but once on God ! with scourges he 

Shall rue the dire effect, in iron chains 

Secur'd for frequent fury ; that shall God 

Have for a tribute even 'till the knees 

Of the infhctors give ; now, now first time 

Most truly bent, our future doings plan, 

Course settle, and to end the common cause 

Adramelec! the biggest thunder roll, 180 

Rend heaven asunder, slaughter to its height 

Urging so long one feudator remain." 

Thus he, more grisly than the god of Thrace ; 
Or than Ciampolo but just escaped 
From Dante's demon, mockery of words 
Further disdaining, whilst his strained lips 
Mutter 'd ; and unto him then Ekriel — stung 
Right o'er his heart, in agony replied. 

" If from the heavens we're shut the starless space 



IN HEAVEN. 63 

Is ours for ever, Emp'ror! that event 190 

Of which thou hintest all redemption past : 

Unto the throned eminence of God 

Thou venturest not the eye but asketh how 

To over-top his walls, so to escape 

This frightful desolation, horrible ! 

O that we had annihilated been, 

Space, Matter, Chaos, Night with us annulled, 

If this the consequence." 

With eyes like those 
Of the great naming diamonds within 200 

The socks of the Orissan idol fierce 
Apollyon interrupting cried, " Disdain 
Be thine despairing cherub : that we bear 
Eradicable is ; nor heaven against 
A battery impregnable. If twice 
Chaos hath failed that no reason is 
He shall third time ; and if his help we take 
Unto us he subserves if not ensures : 
Let none despond though we inhabit sole 
These sombre shades, good occupation ours 210 

Providing engines wherewithal to storm 
And take by force what fairly we cannot : 
Fair is the brow of heaven if yet to us 
Forbidding we must violate and will, 



64 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Only the arduous space great gods ! maintain 
Lord of ourselves, until to wrath aroused 
With pointed arms destruction is indulged, 
And all upon their thrones — all re-installed." 

So he th' impression of the master took, 
As metal dies, or mud the form of one 220 

Fall'n down, himself approving ; Zabrash next 
Deep thoughtful rose with a terrific glare 
Scowling and redden'd, pleading like some paid 
And wary advocate his hearers fools, 
Loos'ning his robe, as he his weary wings ; 
As if his thoughts were for his mouth too tasked, 
Thus he. 

" The present full amends shall make 
The future, as thou promis'd by thy speech 
Dread Emperor ! propositive against 230 

The unknown God : we meditate his fall 
With rancour now, devoting his high head 
To scorn and detestation ; pityless 
And slow rend all his person nerve from nerve, 
His flesh unto us for a feast, his blood 
In ornate urns receiv'd in lieu of wine 
Shall serve his servants if our rightful rage 
Any escape : who with these thews shall cope 
In godlike exercise with heart less stout 



IN HEAVEN. 65 

Than outs'? forge chains for bondage! Night again 240 

Shall wave her flaggy wings within the heaven 

And o'er the inessential elves and fays 

And fairies queen it. Heaven before us lies, 

See ! all ye prime of angels ; Ekriel thou, 

Thou ! look behind thee, is there light enough 

For God to mangle cowardice like thine % " 

He started ; so a baleful baron bold 
Belied, or brindled lion at a pard 

Roaring ; " Scorn'd seraph!" he exclaim'd, " withdraw 
Thy insolence : ye gods ! if I repine — 250 

As who doth not our actual loss ! and hate 
Reverse, ye also hate, nor that conceal 
Boasted ; I but prefer no sense to that 
Which shocking is, and if ye had the choice 
Of pref 'rence make no doubt which one were ta'en. 
Now Emp'ror thou proposest war, but how 
Leave us in doubt and ign'rance upon what 
War can be rais'd ! — against Jehovah, One 
Who sate the while unmov'd, a third of heaven 
With Chaos turn'd from our united course 260 

To our original starting place nor there 
Leaving sufhc'd it, but beyond our own 
Celestial field with power resistless drove 
The anguish'd angels o'er the heights of heaven 

F 



66 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And scarcely there invisible refrained." 

Chafing he clos'd, the proud pretender's pride 

Sore handled ; so a falling charioteer 

Observes a linch-pin loose : Adramelec 

Rush'd forward crying, " Rash ! imaginings 

Like these forbear, or other audience seek 270 

More tolerant ; where God is still enskied 

In his eternity prostrate thee there 

If they vouchsafe it : we shall conquer yet 

By the necessity of things, and God 

Humble to dust. Just is our anger, peers ! 

Encourage it and triumph or we die." 

Utterless thoughts were his so brief he said ; 

Like some false priest upon the brink of death 

" Peace, peace," cries where is none, full soon found out ; 

Then rose Togarmah, from his fearful front 280 

Shaking the grime ; so Ancseus of size 

Gigantic. 

" Arm ! " cried he, " the worst, the worst 

We know, nor Chaos ask but use his whole 

Fixing, thou God of God ! for our good field 

Of battle, if to joust the others dare 

Before we tourney hold inside their walls : 

Illumine matter ! characters of life 

Give thou unto the lifeless, organize 



IX HEAVEN. 

The inorganic : arm ! with weapons such 

As God possess nor handle, and practised 

Win. That we wasfd with Chaos war was not 

But an experiment ; henceforth war real 

Exterminating all we shall engage. 

Unsheath us instruments, two-edged swords. 

Other ill-omen'' d things which showers of blood 

Flashing shall shed; assassins thon shalt find 

Ready to wield : with passing poison tip 

Us pointed lances, that the slaves shall sting 

As we are stung : stretch! stretch hut forth thy hand," 

The Gerent look'd considerate : so one playing 
Chess makes due calculation e'er he moves 
His latest pawn on which his fortune frowns 
For mortal fear ; the comers of his lips 
Inverted. Muse ! beyond the balked brush. 
As pale around his roving eyes he rolled ; 
Then like the god of War smote down upon 
The trembling ground : all the terrene confessed — ■ 
As Delos Xeptune when he smote it with 
His trident, hard consolidatins: ; forth 3 1 

z 

Innumerable hippogryphons rushed. 

Gorgons. chimaeras with be-gilded horns. 

And horse like that which with his fore feet smote 

At Heliodorus full of fright and fear. 



68 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And harpy birds or beasts — Philoctetes 

Ne'er saw in his lone island half the like, 

Creatures with scraggy skulls and jaunty jambs 

Speechless to see, envenom'd giant jinns, 

Scabb'd scolopendrians — fiercer than the steeds 

Diomed fed upon the flesh of man, 320 

Spouting gross fires from mouth nose eyes and ears 

Incessant — or with membranes mainly charged 

Unfolding fun'ral shrouds fanning the air 

Racking each other as in prankish play ; 

In some the pressing pulses underneath 

Were seen to flow like melted lava oft 

As oceans into their enamell'd chests 

Gasping they drew : the semi- vital big 

Alligatorians that the unknown 

Soil of our bottom'd seas, prodigious pierce, 3,30 

(Defiling so, green Thetis — me she tells, 

Trembling the haunts of all the Naiads seeks,) 

These — like mail'd moles, which islands often raise, 

Or shift a continent, they nothing are 

As comparable : some were like some things 

In the salt wave, but few are like in air ; 

Enchas'd were some with lineaments mis-turned, 

Ten-tush'd, and hydra-headed ; winged vults 

Blue, black, or red-wing'd vult-like gryphons worked 



IN HEAVEN. 69 

The air with mania gladness ; starting eyes, 340 

And lolling tongues had some — the incubi 

Like mounts of flesh ; whilst some came serpenting 

With never-ending involutions, wide 

Of nostril, and blood-red their shaggy jaws, 

Rav'ning, and bloated, virulent, wrathful ; 

And one more fierce than all, wondrous wild-eyed, — 

A horrid thing in counterview came forth 

And instant on espial hunger-pained 

Heap'd up his hundred heads and dashed down 

Upon him ; (might tremendous ! chill my soul 350 

Turns with the recollection ;) muscular 

Vastness unto them both, they wriggled up 

Their plated bellies earnestly inspired 

And unappeasable : so ships full-freight 

Full-sail encounter groaning all the masts 

And every timber start ; or like hell-clouds 

From two volcanoes — high as Antisan, 

Against each other roofward driving up 

Lash'd mutual grim, elate : iEtolian plains 

Such never held as wide they stretch 'd the jaw, 360 

Beat their black brawn, and in the turgid sides 

Drove twenty-talon'd tests and crunched the bone ; 

Thus they 'till sooty flames the wide expanse 

Involving the Arch-actor smote them both 



70 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To stone : so on the Aulis sands they boast 

One damnate dragon unto marble turned : 

Others there were strange creatures strangely joined, 

By million millions, emblems of the Night 

And Chaos whence they came ; the latter long 

Burden'd within his ribs now out they poured 370 

Even as a wave begets another from 

One end of the wide ocean to the other ; 

Or gravid clouds as o'er the earth they sail 

Congenial shadows ; lacking were their looks, 

Erect the hackled hair, malign the mould, 

StifFning their limbs, longer the skinny arms 

Than Mycale's who pulled down the moon ; 

Clapping they yell'd, and formed into troops, 

Legions of fiends with visages viceful, 

Sunk eyes, mouth-steaming, every time they breathed 380 

Fetching a horrid hiss : so (Ete, so 

Th' Achaian cities heard when CEdipus 

Invoking, from the gates of Tsenarus 

Tisiphone wing'd forth: Chorcebus such 

Ne'er saw though one begot in depth of hell 

Encountering he slew. 

Thus the far space 
Was peopled with dajmonians as well 
With unform'd, unco' things : even then the crash 



IN HEAVEN. 71 

Of Empire some imagining call'd, " To arms !" 390 

Measur'd the light horizon each his beast 

Seizing, and arms there were which here for want 

Of weighty words we call invuln'rable 

Shields, helms, breastplates, and others, these they don ; 

Pallas full armed came unto the birth 

And these instant appear'd with casque, and plume, 

Vizor, gorget, corse, cuirasses, and cuish — 

Even to the sandals serv'd, with trappings dight 

Of baldric, thong, belt, chain, and cincture light, 

Starr'd-mantles, robes than ermin'd kinglier far -±00 

As more becoming ; in their hand or spear 

Missive, or shaft, or lance, cutlass, or sword — 

These the majority preferr'd for these 

Allow'd close quarter, and the rebels then, 

O sanguine ! thought with mail like theirs such wage 

The surer ; some took clubs like those we find 

In late-found Tootoonah ! some arrows seized 

Feather'd with fury — such the Parthians sped 

Sharper than razor-teeth; some javelins like 

The Mamlukes throw unerring ; pensile nets 410 

Others endued with which they hop'd to snare 

The birds of heaven; faulchions, and hangers broad, 

And razing steels to many ; bearded bolts, 

Iron maces, deadly darts — their quivers stored, 



72 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And bows than Teucer's stronger ; others chose 

Ponderous disks, or gauntlets — surer than 

Th' GEbalian; slings the Balearic; some 

Lightly accoutred, others for the sap 

And mine, whereby the Capitol of God — 

If storm prov'd ineffectual should be scooped, 420 

Those too who rode their panoply put on 

Heaping their horse — if horse their carriers were 

With choicest gems and carbuncles of fire, 

Whilst some the lengthful lash whirling outrushed 

Chariots and cars inlaid with fires, above 

Bimm'd with the flexile flames the crowning rays 

Trac'd wondrous fine, the body parts outwrought 

With battle polish'd to the last degree 

As were the circling frames and axles — bossed 

Most blinding bright ; ten thousand thousand ranged 430 

In shining order, quick with tensive trace, 

Argentine rings, and sparkling harness strong, 

The whirlwind-footed gryphs they join, to each 

A pliant pole except the two extern 

Prancing in pride ; the reins of lightning light 

Scarce felt, than mares of the Pheretian breed 

Gotten by Zephyr on the harpy- winged 

Podarge swifter they, (the charioteers 

Leap'd loos'ning to their seats,) oft' they all went 



IN HEAVEN. id 

" Whiz " down the hills across the pictur'd plain 440 

Evanishing same time, the clang, the tracks 

Phosph'rous behind : so the aerolites 

Kindled, a momentary space are heard 

Rushing and seen, the next outstripping sight 

Beyond the swinking stars : meanwhile a camp 

Immense outspread the tents the booths arranged, 

Amidst the paragon pavilion pitched 

Conspicuous, — not the Elishan dye 

Of the rare robe the sumptuous empress wore 

Poppea, nor queen Hecuba's could match, 450 

Nor Hyacinthus' locks ; the sockets, rings, 

Long poles, and staples, and elab'rate ribs 

Were finest gold, (an ore hateful to name,) 

Northward an altar stood where incense burned 

Unto such strains the bound Bellona heard 

Precede the lictors when the Quirine door 

Impris'ning they with pageant pomp threw ope. 

Thus was prepar'd for war, Mnemosyne ! 
Recite the outlin'd order when the trumps 
Bray'd begg'ring and the banners were unfurled. 460 

Bid Baal first, like some proud sultan through 
His janizaries come, earth, ocean his 
In prospect as of Giours like dogs he thinks, 
And of his prophet : blazon'd at his breast 



74 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And for breast-harness shone a sardell'd sun 

Inwrought with ornament ; in main of space 

Floating like a bright bubble through the air 

The heavenly heaven, illusion cloth'd the whole 

Celestial well ; as in a glass were seen 

All the palatinates, the seat supreme 470 

Wide occupying central, hid in clouds 

The towers that God for the eternity 

Belting had built, refulgent they, but lo ! 

Instead of God's express escutcheon o'er 

The entrance portals, and his formless flag 

'Twas Lucifer's, that Anarch to the place 

Of God the Sovereign King depos'd advanced ; 

And here they crown' d him with most solemn state 

Th' assembled angels ; coronation ne'er 

Like this was represented, numberless 480 

Although to us the actors every one 

In scenic sort upon that plate appeared, 

Here thousand thronging legions lordly lift 

The hand and oath allegiance, there they bind 

O Muse ! some few th' Almighty, some his crown 

Kicking make sport, and one his sceptre tries 

To lift that he may strike him ; scatter'd here 

And there are chained captives, low the head 

Hanging despondent ; some the axes edge 



IN HEAVEN. 75 

For fresh decapitations, whilst the crowd 490 

Themselves to joy abandoning on all 

The outer margin festival is seen 

And strangest festival — the noises seem 

Express'd, the gen'ral tumult, laughter, love 

Or lust for so it look'd where with the sprites 

(Nor angels though angelic,) that upon 

Them as their Thoughts and Wishes always had 

Attended, with all these Bacchan tic-like 

Licensing : Baal thus ; beside him shone 

His bearer tabarded, within his fists 500 

A banner he sustain'd : so rear'd the Turk 

The Crescent when the Saracener lay 

At point of death. The darkling deserts rung 

As on they pass'd like storm. 

Apollyon next, 
Outnumbering the stars with cherubim 
Their wavy wings advanc'd : so he — who slew 
Himself at loss of priz'd Pelides' arms, 
Appointed Ajax and the Locrian bands : 
Nor Ekriel less ; magnific Moloch eke 510 

Ruling in concert, the disastrous past 
Forgotten, the import'nate future more 
Than the avengement promis'd : to the winds 
Their flags stream'd wide astonishment : Rumor 



76 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Went with all three ; rapacious were her looks 
Toward the heavens. 

Then came Adramelec; 
O'er Chaos he unfuii'd : Enceladus — 
Now stretch'd by the Avernian lake, like this 
Ne'er trod : he stalk'd as if alone he meant 520 

To tread Jehovah down, dominion won 
And the eternal-aU to him subject : 
Nor Oileus's now name ; his looks 
Were more than terrible; presumption none 
Apparently was his but what he looked 
He meant and would assuredly fulfil. 

Follow'd Togarmah 'battled ; through the air 
An ensign swum none other could have owned : 
The peerless powers were his ; his, charioteers 
With crescent scythes unto the axles, they 530 

Drove to the din of hasting hoofs and sounds 
That baulk'd the boiling blood. 

On hippogryphs 
Haraphon's heavily endow'd, that chief 
Carrying his crest immutable as God's 
On whom scornful — like Tityus he thought, 
His heart throat-high to see his vast concourse 
There marching : o'er his broad and beauteous brow 
A darting dragon shed or seem'd to shed 



IN HEAVEN. i i 

Particular poison ; kindling up he killed, 540 

Or seem'd to kill all upon whom he glared 

Out of his ireful eye — but one had he 

That more effective than the thousands owned 

By Envy to a proverb, where it flashed 

Dissolv'd the clouds immediate, all the space 

AYax'd warm, as if about again to life 

It must it must return : jNTisroch with him ; 

Drawing no spurious sword he orcler'd, " On!" 

Anticipating God within his power ; 

To them were harpies with war- wanting wings, 550 

And formidable talons : high their flags 

Unceasing shone ; as through the wintry mists 

A double sun. 

Last, who shall dare impede I 
The seraphim, like tawny tempests when 
The regent call'd Zabrash whom Conquest waits 
And Satire at the side : his ensign flouts 
All the preceding, in diviner light 
Enhanced to inviolable black ; 

The leger light that ever courses through 560 

Three sev'ral heavens fold up and such a flag- 
So fulgent were not made ; when Triron tore 
It down and rended it to tatters he 
Even he was blinded : wafting wings were his 



78 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Unto his helmet, great Petasian wings 

Perspicuous bright ; they blaz'd and bickering burned 

Most terrible, advancing harrowing heads 

Unlike aught else beside ; wide open were 

The gory dripping mouths, and still they seemed 

As they had never swallow'd, they so much 570 

Desir'd to swallow ; horns they had like those 

The ocean-god upon the taurus put 

He sent to punish Minos ; and such eyes 

That Polypheme's blasted but to meet. 

High, high above them all from whence he saw 
The glittering whole array 'd united stand, 
Lone Lucifer : pond'ring he stood divine 
In sight of all. The fabled god of heaven 
With him of hell unite, the image faint 
Pour trays his person. Now his soul inspires 580 

With thought of deathless fame ; the lightnings play 
Around him at his feet ; the heavens turn pale 
When heavenward out he looks, and all the field 
Before him his effulgent eyes reflect 
Back right upon themselves : the very god 
Of Fire was he ; amazement follow'd all 
His giddy ing glances ; now he rises — like 
Xerxes when at Doriscus high enthroned 
His satraps sanction'd, Syrian, Persian, Mede, 



IN HEAVEN. 79 

Indian, and iEthiop the million ronnd 590 

Filed along. Their truncheons — thick empearled, 

Advancing then those mighties, like a sea 

All present was in motion ; with a tide 

Recurrent to one point : the Persian king 

Thought Grsecia ended, Lucifer as much 

The Heaven of heaven his own. 

Now where the plain 
Extended farthest with experiment 
Of arms those countless disciplining met, 
Marching to clarion'd brass, or trumpets woke 600 

Earnest, and dreadful drums ; pursuing some, 
Or back retreat brandish'd their weapons o'er 
Their heads, or thrust before, or right, or left ; 
Others their jav'lins, pikes, or spears they dart, 
Or many a length the low'ring arrows speed ; 
And monster-mounted myriads o'er the wilds 
Interminable on together dash 
Their coursers rear'd on skinny shanks aloft, 
Lighter than aether, fleeter than the winds, 
Whilst more behemoths stride, or bigger beasts 610 
Such as their weak'ning weight — encas'd from head 
To the far distant sole in proof, may bear, 
These for their legs had pillars, brawny backs, 
And heads within the hollow'd shoulders grown : 



80 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Others with shovellines, and adzes, tools 

Invented various delv'd the marls, or with 

Insidious Archimedeans wrought the rocks 

With such successful aptitude that soon 

Their theatre their tomb had surely been 

But as they excavated myriads more — 620 

When the incumbent crack'd, onrushing propped : 

Uncounted wave the wing ; self-pois'd are some 

In attitude of thrusting; others up 

The perpendicular aspire, whilst one — 

Venus his storied dame, from out the ground 

By potent arts electric inchoate 

Minerals drew to streams than Acheron — 

That noted river ! broader, blacker still, 

And deeper ; these through lengthening canals 

Conducted, huge cylindric tubes were made, 630 

Upon ten huger asteroids upraised, 

And charg'd with stars up to the rugged mouth. 

Thus were they occupied, above, beneath, 
And under ; imprecations often heard 
And boastful promises what should be done 
In downright earnest : some the lightnings red 
Would ride and deluging the field with name 
Garish rejoice. 

Then from the cherubim 



IN HEAVEN. 81 

Of might with gesture eminent march'd one 640 

A banneret forth defying ; in his hands 

The flag of that pretender, Lucifer 

Leader of all those armies ; paramount 

Of princes, the adversary of Him 

Who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords ; 

Like the boreal in the blindest night 

Flaunting and nickering to the zenith, so 

Lengthen'd it stream'd spangled with scorching suns 

That lurid lightness spilt, a dragon shone 

Graft in the centre like the sovran sign 650 

Of the high emp'rors who in China rule, 

Or far Pegu : to blast that Pontus had 

Perpetuated — stone, thus he unfurled 

Upon his mount, like Teneriffe seen at sea 

When the shy moon her pointed crescets dips 

Below the troubled main and all her suite 

Attend the court above, or else insphered 

Lie hid; or high Lam aim on in Tigra, 

Shap'd throne-like : there that mighty Magnate stood 

Outshining all his nobles, gath'ring fast 660 

Soon as they heard his summons — whether air 

They wing'd or pac'd or rode or wrought subtern, 

Thither all troop'd ; imperial crown he wore 

And sceptre ; close around his chivalries — 



82 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

No more associates, wait, no equal his 
Amongst them, none though glorious they were 
Proud as their prince, but to his heighten'd height 
Not daring whatsoe'er of it they thought. 
Then up rose he : so Philip's son, or if 
Olympia be accredited joint Jove's 670 

When to his Greeks his deep design was shown, 
And thus with voice of thunder them addressed. 

" Homeward ye deities ! to prove our worth 
Impatient for th' occasion which shall end 
Th' insulting question, and good title show 
To our estates celestial : now prepare ! 
Incens'd with wrong that nothing can atone 
Save vengeance as unlimited. Tremble 
The heaven of heaven ! we not contend alone 
For empire but redemption from reverse 680 

Insuff'rably humiliating, ill 
Detested, ye will tell hereafter our 
Sad accidents — their cause Chaos, not God 
So here to call that Ruler, secret he 
'Bides in the cradle of eternity 
Yet still a thing may be that these strong arms 
One day shall stifle if he dare not meet 
And if — let come through the rent clouds with all 
The seven archangels, this Jehovah eighth 



IN HEAVEN. 83 

I cope the whole; their slavish phalanx thrice 690 

More than enough are ye, great gods ! to take 

The transitory while. Arrest us none 

May hope, subdue still less, elicited 

Our power as your apparatals shall prove : 

Now with desire that knows no bounds, no more 

Than doth 0111* pride — vital the more 'tis touched, 

Xow lift the brazen bray of war, and formed 

The fretted front upon the heavens let loose."' 

He said, nor they delay'd but like a lake 
Long pent the barring ice in some grand gorge TOO 

Dissolv'd ; or avalanche from Cotopax 
Fallen, they rush : Baal deploy 'd in square — 
Steel'd squares with an ^terminable line 
Of more than iron o'erlapping sides and van, 
Each had a sword if other weapon failed, 
Some so accoutred that to sap they could 
Xunibers — exhaustless as to mortals seem 
And are. 

Apollyon, Ekriel, Moloch — 
In more than Pylian armour sheathed their limbs, 710 
Swept forth pyramidal : tumultuous winged 
Their multitudes unto the starless cope 
Mounting- : S o in a darksome night the flocks 

g '2 



84 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of Hurricane through the concave compelled 
By iEolus and others. 

Stream'd the slings 
Breathless aforth, one vast unruffled wave 
Floating along : Nisroch the left, the right 
Haraphon rul'd : so at the equinox 
The Northern Ocean o'er the dismal dams 720 

Of Gothland pours : communicating each 
His thoughts unto his fellow but by looks 
They bore as if a-swoon they would surprise 
The Ever- wakeful ; hippogryphs and brutes 
Gorgonian drove shuffling on behind, 
Deathful their riders look'd as strong to bear 
As to inflict ; these the artill'ries served 
In chief ordain'd reserves if any gave, 
Or if — which much they deprecated, God 
"Within his battlements defied the van 730 

To sap retir'd upon him as besieged 
They open would : moreover on each flank 
Such force immense was plac'd and so disposed 
That if the sides did, unexpected break 
Then Haraphon's were there. 

Adramelec's 
Upon their harpies soar'd : no atmosphere 



IN HEAVEN. 85 

Of light was theirs close crowding with unrest 

Incessant, flushing one the other on ; 

Myriads they flew : Togarmah's myriads more 740 

Past calculation, soon exulting lost 

In the invisible as if the cramp 

Of ages from their limbs were just removed. 

And countless as the Cyrenaic sands 
Surrounding Ammon's fane the seraphim 
Self-shrin'd immediate follow, many-eyed — 
Eyes more than feathers theirs innum'rous they, 
Moving continual and running to 
And fro where run they might : thus out they spread 
Their whizzing pinions startling as they spread 750 

E'en Lucifer himself. 

O'er air, the sea, 
The land if so to call Hibernian bogs 
Allow'd, they sped those spirits, joyance theirs 
Such as the Mohawks have when on the trail 
Of white men to their fiendish hand betrayed 
By evil fortune. With a nameless sense 
Of ecstasy wrought from preceding woe 
Th' horizon of the heavens was seen to clear, 
Faint in the rising blue the golden gloam 760 

Outlining the great wall ; words incomplete 
And exclamations short congratulative 



86 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Some time were then indulg'd : no warden warned 

No garrison gave sign, and as the light 

At length upon them through the short'ning space 

Pour'd clear and sculptur'd in the radiant sky 

The battlements unguarded, welcome hope 

Of God abandon'd all the citizens 

In mutiny came to the Arch-one's heart, — 

Toil at an end, behold! the fruit, thought he, 770 

Pluck ! but that instant other surmise stole 

Of stratagem and that so plausible 

He started agoniz'd — in full career 

His armies stopp'd imperiously : 'stonied 

They turn with noise tremendous, bucklers brash 

With bucklers, cars on cars, and steeds on steeds 

In infinite disorder ; close around 

The regents rushing where their Eoyal stood 

Cruelly calm and strong, his balls of sight 

Turgid and wounding to their eyes to see 780 

For care sat on his cheek wrinkling his brow : 

So banish'd from his country looks some lord 

Frustrated in return. 

" Unto our arms ! " 
Cried he, " this uninhabitedness 
Is craft, auxiliars ! if heaven retain 
His population 1 not one watcher there 



IN HEAVEN. 87 

Shows to perplex us ! worse at loss for that 
Considerate absence if not yet compelled." 

The princes heard convinc'd nor answer 'd one, 790 
Consid'ring all. Then a sub-regent rose 
Nam'd Phalton and — distrustful of his speech 
As is some alien when he first accosts 
A meeting, thus replied : 

" High Emperor ! 
Such seed as thine must fructify, impulse 
To freedom natural as thy following proves 
Though follow'd thee not all ; the dormant mind 
Will germinate : this I opine is happed 
Belief in God dying gradually away 800 

On all sides round : no paradise of peace 
Is yon divided realm ; the restless spirits 
Consummating such liberty as ours 
Foreboded little what in consequence 
We bear : thus split in twain far off at bay 
Fearing the one the other, all are kept 
Ign'rant of our approach else welcome now 
Unto these walls had we. Now in his pride 
Upon his throne — which these millenniums stood 
In solitary pomp, th' arbitrator 810 

And sov'reign of the skies proceed and seize ; 



88 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Thou greater God ! the sympathies of soul 
Are all thine own ; impotent God shall fall, 
Unsanctifled he totters to his base 
Which baseless is as when we roll away 
The myst'ries of prescription shall be found." 

Then rose Croastor saying, " Thou who knowest 
Better than that thine inference to draw 
Whence many come, O Emp'ror! as if God's 
Party had yet no leader, and their head 820 

Were grown too old or altogether gone 
Indifferent to fate even to death, 
For that awaits him and the burning brand 
Of cowardice if so ; incredible 
'Tis all : he meditates a single blow 
With his twelve-handed engines, once to smite 
And smite no more. If all to us were like 
Fever were certain, but none less it is 
The opposite emasculated are 

Their vigour quite extinct though still the show 830 
Of mind continue else were they revolt 
Same time with us and join'd in heart and hand; 
Bondage to some is sweet as freedom's self. 
Jehovah deeming us untaught behind 
His force conceals, designing when the least 



IN HEAVEN. 89 

Expected use to make ; for how may He 
These armies hope in fair contest to take, 
To vanquish] 'tis impossible, beware!" 

Thus contrary that speaker like some sage 
Pillar of state, when Inexperience draws 840 

Danger as distant he believing near 
Anxious for the result : Ahithopel 
Counsell'd like manner, others like to him. 

" Heaven shall be," cried Baal, " emptied all 
Vainly for that their monarch at their head 
Panoplied in his best, the massive keys 
Upon his most mysterious chambers turned 
Lest if we drove him off we enter should 
By way of portal rather than by force 
To which they're destin'd echoing thunder back 850 
So resonant he shall hear where'er he flee. 
'Tis treach'ry what thou, Emperor! observed'st, 
God strengtheneth himself as well he may : 
In stedfast manner bravely hold our course 
Unto the destin'd goal prepar'd to meet 
His aggregated force ; fearless to face 
A hailing hail-storm from those waiting walls, 
And a full harassing until our stores 
Brought gen'rally upon them down they're done, 
The fadeless fillets ours." 860 



90 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

" The universe," 
Added proud Haraphon, " dread Lucifer ! 
In dreary calmness on thy fiat bound 
Awaiteth thy decision : trust not Chance 
None equal, and before our hosts resume 
Their onward march let some bold wing essay 
As spy the silent intermediate space, 
I offer." 

He displaying, and to him 
Adramelec. 870 

" If now the foe prepare 
To meet us, let him : if the heavens we gain 
By downright storm and violence we gain : 
War is our trade, and war ! our sternest will, 
Our fiercest rage unvanquishable show. 
What matt'reth it to us that God within 
Or out be found ? so long we find ; we seek 
He hideth, well ! he croucheth, well ! his spring 
Takes us by no surprise whene'er he come, 
Or how ; rather surprise shall we receiving 880 

Him in these longing arms crushing the life 
Out of his Bodyless. To watch were mad, 
For what ] he watcheth ; game like his we scorn 
As fear we scorn, what prompteth him beside 
And conscious weakness 1 Quick ! let us resume, 



IN HEAVEN. 91 

Resume our Emperor ! the thrilling trump 

Impatient lies, the ail-artill'ries long 

To open on the heavens, the armies all 

O'er the embattled heights in mass to pour 

Victorious, and to spoil the spoiler in 890 

His turn : this is our limit, nothing short ; 

Scabbards we 've none, nor what wherein to rest 

Our lances, nor wherewith our Fells to feed — 

Unless we kill our own, their corpses thrown 

Instead of God's unto their rav'ning maws : 

The time is come for victory, revenge!" 

So the Armada by contrary winds 
Check'd the commander for an omen took, 
But not the captains all a-thirst for spoil 
No thought of my brave ancestor : he said. 900 

Then Lucifer : " The probability 
Is ambush from behind those well-built walls 
Couching : 'tis well from this assurance draw 
That we are formidable otherwise 
No wrong advantage sought God would confront 
Us as a God behoveth face to face 
Delib'rate open : this he first hath done 
Witness proud powers ! what we all despise ; 
With what advantage it remains to see, 
Or disadvantage rather we the more 910 



92 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Guarded in consequence ; thus shall it be 
To tyrants their own snare the free escaped 
Suspecting its existence, tapestried 
Although it be and interlac'd with care." 

So that deceiver preach'd forgetting how 
Unto Adramelec one time he talk'd 
Declining in full synod open feat 
Of arms with that Opponent : this said he 
With a commanding air and ordering 
They re-career : so the Danaians in 920 

Their course on Ilium by contrary winds 
Detain'd the heavy anchors gladly heaved 
With the first change and Menelaus first : 
Whilst all the leaders measuring with care 
The deeps of space, restrain'd — as pilots will 
In strange and dang'rous seas ; 'twas thus the gulf 
Those on the wing they swam, whilst those who marched 
Oft started at their shadows in the dark 
Imagined or seen cast lengthning by 
The horizontal beams of light which streamed 930 

Upon that heap of darkness from the heavens. 

Thus on the great frontier of God they came 
Over the wild abysm with Chaos to 
The fulgent fringes of eternal day ; 
I [ere alleluias met, or echo of 



IN HEAVEN. 93 

The alleluias, from afar within 

The hyaline outcome : some lightning stroke 

Fallen on his only son — a blacken'd corse 

Smitten before his eyes the father scarce 

So much surprises ; God within his court 940 

Unmov'd, his throne he fills to praise inclined, 

Thought Lucifer, the while I hostile come ! 

Angelic quires ! to other strains full soon 

Your citterns ye shall tune, your deftest clamped : 

And thou mine enemy prepare, prepare 

Contemptuous King ! for more experienc'd arms 

Which yet shall prove supremacy not thine : 

Thus on gain'd they and soon the barrier walls 

Frown'd ominous upon them and immense. 

Eternal sure defences up they towered 950 

Beyond capacity of seeing, down 
As deep inscrutable, afar beyond 
Imagination, and their stones were squared 
So truly and so perfectly infixed 
That jointure none appear'd : as high they towered 
'Twas jasper all to excellence as clear 
As crystal polish'd ; these to sapphires changed 
As fitly built, and chalcedons beneath 
Of varied vein red, purple, white and gold ; 
Em'ralds came next, and still beneath them lay 960 



94 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH. 

Transcendent stones to species twelve as tells 
John the divine of Patmos to him shown 
More than the angels previously had known. 
Obdurate rebels ! in such pride ensconced 
Yet still they hoped to scale or undermine 
These hugest bulwarks, there in wide array 
The labour calculating, unassailed 
As yet from the high tops ; fell Lucifer — 
The while braving he saw, his sceptred Lord 
Secretly cursed that his walls so stood 970 

Apparent sure, begrudging sore the time 
They must delay his overthrow and fate ; 
Ruthless he look'd over his ruthless bands 
Following his flaming eyes, unto the depth 
Stirr'd up the silent multitude, strengthened 
Their failing spirits ; such his bearing was 
So boastful, or so confident — the more 
Proportion'd to his doubt which came unto 
His secret heart like cold : thus on they winged 
Massively gathering those millions close 980 

And closer all together as those walls 
Of the Almighty God's great realm they won. 



THE WARS OF JEHOYAH 



BOOK III. 



THE ARGUMENT. 

Lucifer sits down before the wall of heaven which is vainly sapped and 
mined : discovering a gate he besieges that. The holy angels rise 
invoking God : God appoints Michael, Gloriel, and Hadriel — .three of the 
seven archangels against the rebellious in equal number. The battle : 
Death and others : finally Lucifer and the three archangels meet, with so 
tremendous a shock that the whole Chaos is shivered to pieces, all the 
revolted that survived falling headlong down. 

The action opens with the same day in heaven. 



BOOK III. 



Now the meridian crystalline shone bright 

Heaven's lengthen'd day half spent, since Lucifer 

Rebelling rose when down before the walls 

His myriads battalious they sate : 

But O ! what task were mine so to relate 

The solemn ord'ring at the journey's end, 

The awful calm, the silence when their arms 

Grounded those rebels to reflection turned 

Under the shadow, the seraphic airs 

Floating aerial o'er like outspent waves 1 

From some far ocean of divinest sound : 

Long of these battlements the battled thought 

Other reception and like some wild troop 

Fezzanee the mirage across Saharr 

H 



98 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Hopeful pursuing the resemblance fair 

Of water undetected 'till too late 

So these ; but the Arch-agnate nearing Night 

Quick invocating, o'er the boundless tract 

Outpour'd were seas of spume; thus he designed 

To fence from hostile ken, and ranks select 20 

Proceed the deep foundationals to find, 

Whilst thrice ten thousand charioteerers scour 

The crap'd champaign their earnest eyes in search 

Of some adventure : so casqued Cortez looked 

And his Espagniols when to horse they took 

In wide Columbia soft Montezume 

In his fair city ignorant or at peace : 

Then too did all such as were mounted ease 

Their wearied beasts ; some to their armour see 

Consid'rate ; some their service volunteered 30 

And join'd the jav'lins ; others Amy clean 

Tenters pitch out ; as sentinels some stood ; 

Whilst some unseasonable resting sought — 

Such rest as eyes for ever open take, 

Not like that trance delectable in heaven 

From pure ambrosial excess brought round 

When Ev'ning o'er the drooping gardens sheds 

Her Morphic airs white culminating moons 

Rising opaque, the stellar influence felt 



IN HEAVEN. 99 

By all the flowers as well ; whilst others list 40 

Adoring airs — to which in happier times 
They also strung their lyres to hymns as high 
Charming the soul, and thus the hour wore on. 

Thus there enormous galleries they wrought 
Through the intestine and with spoil so vast 
Of wasteful matter that th' expanse behind 
A length'ning chain of lofty mountains rose 
Ambitious of the walls, nor angels few 
The heights essaying thence like Icarus — 
Vain boy ! their forces though immortal spent, 50 

Fell in the fond endeavour : Lucifer — 
Aforetime wont, he vainly the attempt 
Secretly made ; like Daedalus he rose, 
His strength ill-calculating to the ground 
Flutt'ring came he confusion in his heart. 

Now havocing they went nor yet deterred 
By difficulty whether solid beds 
Of fire, or ice harder than adamant 
Well-nigh impenetrable plied, high 
O'erarch'd their roof, posting the legions so 60 

At the right moment into heaven they pass 
In phalanx its voluptuous tribes to sweep 
Away for ever, or their shatter 'd ranks 
Annihilated to the Throne of God 

h 2 



100 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Advancing make the prize : so in a dream 
Feasted the Barmecide ; these presently 
Reaching sardonyx's like him awake. 

Then speculating what beneath remained, 
Nor yet despairful perpendicular down 
Hasty they dive, legions relay'd constant, 70 

Scooping the craggy chaos with effect 
Amazing, the debris at-length behind 
Another Himmala ; lo ! unaware 
The super-cumbent buttresses and dome 
Suddenly giving topple in came they 
Upon the operatives ; dismal it was 
That fissur'd place to see — th' Antilles ne'er 
So suffer 'd nor Guadaloupe, the victims dug 
From out the ruins shatter'd in their limbs 
As if corporeal grown ; but soon their wounds 80 

And injuries clos'd their comrades they rejoin : 
Incens'd the more for this mishap they seek 
Fresh ground the distance doubled, unto that 
Setting with zeal proportionate, in bands 
Lab 'ring such multitudes the space decreased 
So rapid that full soon, " Sure they are ours 
This time," said they, when the persistent sards 
Again oppose; the Arch-bestirrer blank! 
Th' artificers examine if a flaw 



IN HEAVEN. 101 

Presented but defect no one could find DO 

In that excelling work : long with lorn hope 
Well-temper'd tools they try, on every part 
Carefully drawn so that if scratch remained 
Much more a joint detected it had been. 

Then Mulciber advis'd, " O Emperor!" 
Said he across his overhanging brow 
Passing his hand not fluent much of speech, 
44 The height, the depth beyond us, nought remains 
Behind but the unknown resisting breadth, 
Desp'rate to tempt is that for if so much 100 

The former two exceed the third most like 
As much, but yet if thou command we will : " 
Lo ! when a man-of-war in shoreless seas 
Takes fire, and all their efforts in despair 
The crew to quench give o'er, the gunner comes 
Reporting to the adm'ral that but one 
Chance for the life remains, (the magazine 
Of powder close endanger 'd,) that poor chance 
Scuttling to boat, so Lucifer likewise, 
Assenting, with combustibles they fill 1 1 

The hollow'd deep, careful the port'rage there 
Effecting ; the sierras they return 
Back from the postern to re-plug those dark 
Approaches, all the outlets with such blocks 



102 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of diamond as hugest they could find 
Hermetically clos'd except one stair 
With but small room the final train to lay 
Unto the hellish gulf; this Vathec did — 
Of all the angels slimmest he of form 
Bolder none found, in his right hand a match 120 

Lighted he bore, his sinister a rock 
Which safely plac'd — return'd full many a time 
For fresh materials, at last the mouth 
Of that long path was no less artful sealed. 
Thus hopefully prepar'd the rebels then 
Aside retire : Night too impulsive rose 
In expectation hovering on high 
As possibly she could, for such a time 
As now approaches, to herself said she, 
Was never known, the battlements must fall 130 

And I before the 'seigers can will in : 
Thus they awaited ; suddenly with vast 
Explosion from that mine the forced flames 
Outpour, aloft in hideous volume driven 
The cupola of that prodigious pit, 
Sere smoke in torrents from the agued abyss 
Gushing with furious fires ; the fragments reached 
Countless spectators and so smote them as 
A storm of April hail ephem'rides smites, 



IN HEAVEN. 103 

Whilst Night was in the chok'd combustion whelmed 

Unto the bottom, from her dizzy height [140 

Brought down insensible : so when the Earth 

Op'ning lost Lisbon swallow'd those she spared 

Distrustful stood : at length — the murky clouds 

Of desolation pass'd, the whirling spent, 

Over the vacuous void the walls of heaven 

Shining abhorr'd they see, and from restraint 

Broke loose tumultuous coasting the black brink 

Discerning Night some thought, many would fain 

That daemon extricate, but so profound 150 

And suffocating the blue bottom lay 

They found it was impracticable ; then 

Cried Timiel " She dies, what better gravel 

O angels ! " this that rash suggester said 

So to divert their thoughts ; with noisy mirth — 

Boist'rous the more the less good cause it had, 

To that whole myriads set, and from the riven 

Volcanic precipices quick detach 

Such pond'rous rocks the Night nigh buried lay 

When Lucifer o'er the aerial waste 160 

Borne on his seraphim, with thunderbolts 

His frenzied eyes threat'ning as well restrained ; 

To swift perdition living lightnings drove 

Timiel scorch'd up, over the smoking sides 



104 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Dash'd with ring down where Night in spasmy state 

Stretch'd stark ; she shriek'd to see her Author there 

Reviving, and in lamentable plight 

Clutch'd him convulsively : so one near drowned 

Grasps a deliv'rer to the crowded bank 

Of the deep river turning. 170 

Whilst these passed 
In the dim distance visible appeared 
A charioteer remorseless lashing on 
His flying gryphons, his slight body bent 
For haste upon the hindmost twelve their backs ; 
That sight that Agnate watch'd wishing the goads 
And their appliance sharper ; Elis ne'er 
Witness'd such speed as theirs ; Plegon and Eous, 
Pirois and (Ethon thund'ring down the vault 
Western .when he Clymene bore the god 180 

Of Day threw down the reins were slow ; as soon 
As seen he greets : whilst explorating on 
Far in advance adventured the first 
Of all the cohorts on that errand sent, 
As on he drove close to the wall of heaven 
A marv'llous gate he found, " Fast shut," said he, 
" It is, if I may judge unto this day 
Ne'er open'd:" he. 

Scarce credible the tale ; 



IN HEAVEN. 105 

No one not Lucifer suspected that 190 

The wall had gate : what purpose \ so he mused, 

Nothing external ; if I choose beyond 

The rampart to expatiate I plunged 

Into real randomness ; O mystery deep ! 

Thought he, and whilst he thought a gen'ral shout 

Heralds another in the dense inane 

Antipodal, his passage made so swift 

They said he bred no shadow : to the first 

Discoverer he confirmation brought ; 

He also found set in the jasper frame 200 

Of those huge bulwarks, " Gate that still defies 

Description," so cried he, " swift though my gryphs 

Sudden they stopp'd so short when that grand view 

Upon them burst far in advance from out 

This chariot I was flung : " one ask'd if road 

As beaten they had seen but neither that 

Thought to observe. 

Now this invited fear — 
Fear that Jehovah even then a-forth 
Was sallying with his armies them to take 210 

By sage surprisal ; hope that since longwhile 
They came not they would never, whilst ingress 
Denied as yet was possible by that means : 
Complacent then as trusting to destroy 



106 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

That barrier unto their Chief they look 

For his opinion which with theirs agreed 

Gladly his regents found ; nor he delayed, 

Over that peopled space came instant change 

With his commandment, "Up, now gods! now up 

Your standards, and the En'my in his den 220 

By his own secret pathway let us seek." 

Like tempest shaken forests was the sound 
Of preparation; terrible the tramp 
Of those tenanciers passing from that scene 
Of maddest impotence : like swollen stream — 
Like Oronok by hurricanes fed — full 
At all his sources, they the Chaos shook 
Eddying their gonfalons, the uncouth beasts 
Rolling as roll gnarled enormous elms 
Torn up in the career and driven along 230 

In the chaf'd scouring scurf; regions they ploughed 
In passing to the roots advancing so 
Scarce were the wing when all the rest arrived 
Unto their object — that saw Lucifer 
Smitten with admiration now first time, 
That rich-wrought portal, lustrous pearl entire 
With frontispiece magnificent ; Edfou 
Pride of ^Egyptian kings — where sphynxes sate 
Guarding the gorgeous entrance, to some slave 



IN HEAVEN. 107 

From Abyssinia less astonishing ; 240 

Or that grand door of Luxor which shut in 

Veil'd Isis from the vulgar : graven on 

The transom shone in a most royal style 

An untranslateable, " Judah!" read they 

And throbbing thought erasure soon to make ; 

No speck disfigur'd that divinest proof 

Of the great Architect, through all the turns 

Of fretwork the most intricate no line 

Betray'd an incapacity, where touch 

Slightest produc'd the necessary effect, 250 

Or where the boldest chiselling was required 

'Twas passing perfect high within the wall 

Proportionally set by fair degrees 

Ascending (like that tower on Sennaar's Plain 

Which God came down to see,) as truly chosen 

The compass wide so that the chariot of 

The Sovereign King of Heaven with thousands square 

Had ample passage found, or host enough 

Even for Lucifer's, — he sick'ning sore 

Then turn'd, from point to the far distant point 260 

Severely scanning ; all the breadth and length 

Of his immense artilleries he saw 

Drawn ordered ; so formidable they 

Appear'd vain Hope he calFd — ne'er called in vain 



108 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

If with sincerity ; in semi-cirque 

Convergent to that portal they were wheeled 

Innumerable, servitors in rank 

Ten to each engine, chosen for their size 

Cyclopean and expert as those who forged 

The noted thunderbolts : thus close arranged, 270 

He with no longer pause precipitates 

The long'd-for signal, each his torch applying 

Same time out out it rushed a bodied Ruin 

Resistless with, O Queen ! such deaf ning roar 

Th' inventor was confounded, fire and flash 

Eclipsing the whole firmament, the heights 

Wrapping in shaggy shade, or gone the whole 

To an infernal wreck spires, pinnacles, 

And portal, wall, and all, — for hailing, down 

Enormous comets with a crash descend, 280 

Back too upon a high sharp-crested wave 

Oceans of lava drove involving those 

The foremost rebels with the train advanced, 

Rudest disorder rul'd as these urg'd back 

Down-treading the posterior, millions swept 

Far distant ; such as timely on the wing 

Escap'd scarce safe, and many frighten'd faint 

Fell actual in : appalling was the scene, 

Whole squadrons from their growling gorgons — mad, 



IN HEAVEN. 109 

Unhors'd lay perishing beneath their feet ; 290 

Had they been charged their senseless pride were less 

Abas'd as some sharp cries conclusive proved, 

Those The Undying Worm mortally stroke 

Such shrieks refrain'd whilst writhing as a snake 

Disbowel'd ; thus unto their cost they proved 

The thirsty tools they play'd with, 'gainst their throat 

Retributively drawn instead of God's ; 

So 'tis with treason since it first began 

Sooner or late : rebellow'd then the heavens, 

The seas serenest wrinkled, the abodes 300 

Of all the gods were shaken ; from their halls 

Th' inhabitants rising from the banquet sped, 

From the myrtillian bowers, the manner'd meads, 

The mountains ; every one within the twelve 

Circles of Paradise — their starry wings 

Upflung in prevalence together, thronged 

The wide-spann'd courts of God mounting such steps 

Upon his Everlasting Throne as ne'er 

Before archangels trod, their golden lyres 

Unheeded, their right hands as well uplift 310 

In solemn conjuration, crying loud, 

" O Thou the angels' life ! unseen because 

No creature can behold Thee and endure 

The vision of Thy glory ; now incline 



110 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Eternal ! to Thy servants where Thou sitteth 

Solemn within alone the God of all 

The gods ; O hear us ! unto Thee we fly 

Thou Hearkener from that unseemly, strange, 

Indescribable noise : Mysterious One 

For ever solitary thron'd within 320 

Immensity ! O let the space between 

Thee God and these Thy angels — lowly bowed, 

Be shorten'd or the distance to the gate 

Of heaven whence the revolters threat so loud 

Greater we we conjure Thee : Undisturbed, 

Unruffled One ! a fear upon us comes 

Unbearable ; reveal ! distinct descend 

From Thine so high an exaltation, or 

Divinity ! most gracious lift us up 

Wherein Thou livest manifest : High God ! 330 

Rule for our hope in act that — if not wrath 

Shall judgment deal unto thy foes to their 

Dismay, O Lord ! Lord ! Lord ! " 

Thus they begirt 
Importunate around, their voices deep 
Invoking vengeance : on adoring knees 
Bent simultaneous one alone remained 
Of the petitioners upon his feet 
Their representative ; Michael was he 



IN HEAVEN. 1 1 1 

The great archangel who before declared 340 

Unto the then-rememb'ring suppliants war 

Avenging theirs ; awful look'd he the while 

Th' Almighty sate in silence, on the ground 

Fix'd his regards, his hands together palmed, 

Cov'ring with careful wings his failing feet ; 

JSTor God denied ; from out the empyrean 

Wherein He shrin'd, through all the more than gold 

Sapphirine domes high vaulted, round the walls 

Of crystal, o'er the turquois floors, apast 

Diamonded balustrades, and polished doors — 350 

O'erstud with azure gems high glittering, vast 

Pillars and obelisks — shaking the whole 

Great globed cupolas, the aisles, and all 

The bastion'd recesses from the base 

E'en to the glowing towers, articulate forth 

Assenting answer comes, " Go Michael — now 

Prince of archangels, Gloriel, Hadriel, 

An equal number unto them oppose 

Outside our battlements, asserting there 

The right Supreme : and plagues of fire and flood 360 

And fury — in your right usurping, fall 

On Lucifer on his infatuate host." 

God said, the heavens all tremble all the while ; 
His angelry most reverendly then 



112 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Casting their crowns before Jehovah down, 

Sung, " King Eternal, Righteous, Just and True ! 

To Thee be honour, praise, dominion, power : 

We laud, we magnify Thy Holy Name 

Who mad'st the Round in space and all therein 

Similitude of Glory : Genitor 370 

From everlasting to e'erlasting King ! 

Dominion Thine without an end, O Thou 

Who judgest all things we Thy sceptre own 

God of the just, Thou Light of lights, before 

All worlds in highest bliss supremely throned, 

To whom alike the past, the present is, 

And the to come : Omnipotent art Thou, 

Omniscient, Omnipresent, Infinite, 

And Absolute ; above all height, all thought 

Thy most divine beatitude ; amen." 380 

Thus those blest blessed join'd 'till heaven rung 
Again, and Michael sounding all his host 
Immortal marshall'd for the great conflict, 
Impatient all to vindicate the cause 
Of outrag'd Majesty ; radiant also 
Hadriel rose ; Gloriel the Sovran voice 
Heard and as soon prepar'd : so Athens once 
Assail'd, scarcely they waited arms to don 
Snatching the handiest ; from their feasts, their games, 



IN HEAVEN. 113 

Their sacrifices rushing garlanded 390 

To battle, like Eunseus thrown aside 

His wreath Nyssean : to the complement 

Beyond the royal warrant unto them 

Uriel spoke of some futural field 

An opportunity theirs with like result 

Promis'd their brethren : thus — the self-same day 

The skies resounded, and through that grand gate — - 

Swung back upon the hinges, throngs were poured 

Thrones, powers, dominions, virtues, princedoms with 

Spread signs and ensigns — thousands fan the airs 400 

Imblaz'd, chiefest the sign to Michael far 

Flaming o'er the abrupt beyond the wall 

Embattled thick : when king Darius met, 

Thus Alexander with his men appeared 

As half-expos'd, a sword, breastplate, and helm 

Well-nigh their total furniture, so these 

To Lucifer his mediate time employed 

Re-organizing. 

Thus those armies stand 
Confront; unquenchable of hate the one, 410 

Horror the other, — not that horror which 
Men but good angels feel, unlike the two 
As men and angels : so the Sabines met 

i 



114 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The ravishers, of Romulus ; so Tell 
The Austrian. 

Now between them yawn'd short space 
The rebels porting their inventionings 
At heaven's incens'd ; determining so in 
The forming fight their dreadful arms to use 
With such advantage that once more they breathe 420 
The od'rous groves of nard, re-earning there — 
As promis'd their lord Paramount they should, 
Their forfeit heritage, addition theirs 
Incalculable all God's gods o'ercome. 

Thus with a mutual will those angels turn 
To battle, rank'd and banded : clashing all 
Their brassy shields the reprobate the din 
Of war provoking, with loud shouts they vex — 
Distract, at the same time the war-whoop raised : 
So yell'd the Sioux, the Hurons when they rushed 430 
Blood-thirsty forth : over the narrow edge 
Dividing, and in proud parade the rest 
Hosting came on; hideous they join'd the shock 
The universe acknowledging with groans 
How painfully 'twas felt, nor angels few 
As half-amaz'd themselves they found well met 
In that wide onslaught: for sometime the two 



IN HEAVEN. 115 

Kemain'd in doubt of the tremendous clash, 
Then with recoil broad space asunder drove 
Stern-eyeing ; presently again the forced 440 

Truce spurning they all violate, Contempt 
And Frenzy infinite at wildest work 
With Destiny distrusting : thus ending 
As oft renewing with increas'd uproar 
And re-collision, light and lightning gushed 
Continually forth out into space 
Illuminate the corners most remote ; 
Then one, Phornicorash the first was done 
To death ; O Muse eternize ! Tonoros 
Who from him wresting a prodigious sword 450 

Cleft through his helm, his skull ; deadly the stroke, 
The wound, his eyeballs start, the nervures snap, 
Down to the ground he falls, his plate and mail 
With heavenly ichor hued : so from a vase 
Upon the sand the precious wine is lost ; 
Before him now there indistinctly swim 
His failing pulses, at the heart he feels 
Unwonted icy, his transparent skin 
Exudes a clammy sweat, then from his mouth 
A spirit dabbled in his blood went forth 460 

Like that one Shakespeare draws by Clarence seen : 
As when Amphiar'aus unexpect 

i 2 



116 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Confronted Pluto Lucifer like him 

Started afraid of such an one deformed 

Crying, "Death!" and he in his own person sped — 

For Death was there, gender'd amidst the heaps 

Of slain already putrid basilic-brimmed ; 

A-forth came he with whity wings, wall-eyed ; 

Rising in might ruling the glairy ghosts 

Swarming — shaggs, sea gulls, kites, and gornets o'er 470 

The king of birds ; or if of biform beasts, 

Jackals, hysenas, cats — serpented-tressed 

They clutch'd the fingers and bestrid rav'ning 

The carcases close watching if he saw, 

Their claws exploring for the inward parts 

By him as yet untouch'd, or chance-like left. 

Then as a princedom ruling, Azazeel 
Upon the flank of nearer Nisroch fell 
So sudden that the bitter dust they lick 
Ten thousands and ten thousands ; thousands more 480 
Struck with a panic unto present flight 
Like shadows take, to them the boundless void 
Seem'd cabin'd as with wings at utmost stretch 
They vanish'd in the distance ; on himself 
His lost artill'ries turn'd Destruction counts 
By millions glorying resolved on more, 
He flapp'd his flabby wings as oft he heard 



IN HEAVEN. 117 

The thickning thunder, breath'd as deep he could 

And vap'rous rose tip-toed to see what then 

After the clearing clouds ; ere the survey 490 

And reck'ning could be made the midnight mists 

Resuming, down confus'd o'erpower'd he fell 

Instant to rise again o'erjoy'd, again ; 

There baleful Battle in a whirlpool caught 

And rampt Resolve together frantic fought : 

Clio, declare ! upon the earth as time 

(Proportion'd to the fleeting life of man,) 

They reckon full one hundred of our years 

Which yet upon the horologe of heaven 

Twice round the circle the long minute hand 500 

Barely describ'd, those rebel legions that 

Reverse withstand : so in the Polar seas 

Shoals of leviathan ; or those they call 

Grampii amongst the hemming icebergs rage 

Harpoon'd : but the forlornest effort theirs 

Driven back whence Nisroch rul'd, he with a shout 

Which all the armies heard last essaying, on 

Astride his dragon swept ; over the slain 

God-like he drove : so Agamemnon king 

Of men rose up and fought when Zeus gave 5 1 

The signal ; Azazeel retreating then 

Such as remain'd unharm'd came numbers up 



118 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

In whose determin'd looks promise shone forth, 

These down upon the holy angels like 

A deluge swept ; that princedom like a rock 

Repelling in a ruining retort 

Retorts well-aim'd whole legionaries gored 

With grisly gaps ; the thrilling steel transpierced 

Or maces crush'd their bones ; torrents of blood 

Spouted were then as wav'd the seethed sword 520 

Forceful, or fledg'd the shaft, or wielded well 

Down came the club, the glitt'ring cutlass, or 

The visionary steel : his armies down 

Trodden or falling lo ! the regent flees 

His banner sav'd : as from a frightful dream 

One rous'd a dagger at the moment sees 

Ready to strike him dead at Nisroch then 

Lucifer look'd ; up, up dilating he — 

With passion pang'd, went forth anew the sign 

Of battle giving, trampling down as mire 530 

Resistance, in his stormy strength unmatched 

Apparently, whilst — like a scorpion stung 

To desperation at his side still fought 

Indomptable that potent with such feat 

Of arms as few but him that day could boast. 

With whirlwind wasteness too Resentment raged 
As well on high — sunless but burning bright 



IN HEAVEN. 119 

With the collision of the iron wings, 

And dark'ning darts which vaulting overflew 

Constant; there the chimsericals also 540 

With beaks and talons fought, making at each 

Warrior as he approach'd, but these no power 

Finding they scream'd, swimming in giddy mode 

Mad, wild, malignant, inarticulate 

For fury, racking one another's joints 

Oft unaware, indignant, glaring worse 

If possible than the envenom'd sprites 

Or spectres intermix'd and now swollen fat 

With marrow : Glaucus when that herb he eat 

Transform'd to no one such ; no such one that 550 

Sea-monster by the angry god despatched 

To scare ungrateful Troy : thus there they met 

The warrers mix'd dividing for himself 

Through boiling seas of shapeless depth, and oft 

Whole legions in disastrous sort would fall 

On those engag'd beneath (as water-spouts 

When on the wav'ring waves wrack-rent they come,) 

Strewing the combatants : many withdrew 

Aside as done to death, yet more remained 

Than tongue can tell tameless as hurricane, 560 

As restless, in their dark career revolved 

Perpetual round, contending eagerly 



120 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

With Death as if indeed for him they craved 

To cram his mouthful maws : millions more 

Phantoms like Death came forth, in livid skins 

Corpse-like endued, cold, hollow, blue their cheeks — 

If cheeks they were, and horn'd if they were eyes 

Like those the lizards that have balls as large 

As are their heads but eyes as small as beads : 

Sharp as the Frosts — when over Iceland reigns 570 

The moon the lakes unto the bottom froze, 

They flitted, but administ'ring to those 

Lucifer lost ; before the holy they 

Dispers'd as fogs, or altogether ceased 

Existence : these when even Death or chanced 

Or dar'd confront invisible he fell. 

Then Michael — in full blaze his signal flung 
Out on the skies, to order summon'd all 
The gods, for gods they were ; fast as their wings 
Could bear them from those fields of disarray 580 

Multudinous they gather'd : silence ruled 
Whilst the archangels through the radiant ranks 
Threw the observing eye ; triumphant gods 
They look'd, uninjur'd from the rival powers, 
Before their brigandines habergeons 
And others vauntful undisparag'd they 
Victorious stood, their sinews joints and bones 



IN HEAVEN. 121 

Invulnerable were, Omnipotence 

Having ordain'd th' imperishable worth 

Of goodness, by as necessary law 590 

To evil rawness, rottenness, relax, 

This to the sorrow wofully was proved 

By myriads — of their brittle bodily 

Angelic forms to nakedness of soul 

Depriv'd and sore afflicted far beyond 

Expression, utter done : in master-mail 

Those angels shone armed — the trusty shield 

Of faith, the temper'd sword of God's bless'd spirit, 

The helmet of salvation theirs, to these 

What were the gifts th' Olympians bestowed 600 

On Hercules % the suit Minerva gave, 

The bow and arrows, sword, great club of brass, 

And shield, Apollo, Hermes, Vulcan, and 

His father gave % these diff 'rently devised 

Each to the wearer's rank, but equal all 

In strength, not one who from the portal passed 

Forth was found missing ; but against the foe 

Harmless that sword, each angel snatch'd or wrest 

Offensives, them so using none had reached 

Their plumes — more brilliant than the Owyheeian 610 

From glossy feathers excellently made, 

Or the Circassian's boast. 



122 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Dread through the dark 
And chasmy air the three archangels all 
Their hugest columns irresistible 
Roll'd regular ; like billows in the Bay 
Biscayan : when the midnight Winds complain 
Amongst Siberian pines such sound make they 
Advancing ; or Cocytus stern-reproved 
Gainsaying Ghosts : the adversaries close 620 

Mortal, each mighty to his utmost bent 
Strain'd in that new encounter : feller then 
Fought the rebellious, with a science true 
As gods could use it who invented had 
The actual elements ; they smote, passed, met, 
Rose, bent, or mov'd aside with agile grace, 
Wit, and undying strength : so afterwards 
The Solymeeans fiercest of mankind 
But they were conquer'd : thus — long while in vain 
When one to Acarynthimos opposed 630 

His weapon dropping down was instant done, 
And from that gap through the hard-yielding lines 
Won he exult ; feebly the archers then — 
Their quivers spent, the slingers they oppose 
The eager millions close together rushed 
Behind that valiant leader slaying as 
Spirits. 



IN HEAVEN. 123 

Then Zarael, Togarmah smote 
And smote his dragon, joy ! eternal Gloom 
The angels saw close np his blasting eyes 640 

And shroud the show ; Baal bewilder'd saw 
Whilst they of harness spoilt him, waging fell 
Resistance ; his most falsely fiction'd front 
On fire, his shield flung down, his passage marked 
Like a broad zone : then Phrymour at him thrust ; 
Right through his side upon a gorgon came 
His tranchant blade and to the monster's heart 
Sped — through the omoplate, extinct he fell, 
Whilst Baal like a bull a hunter spears — 
The armies of Togarmah scattering gone 650 

Like buffaloes through the Savannah when 
Their trusted foremost falls, though drench'd in gore 
Call'd, " To your standard ! our immortal hate 
This shameful scene forbids; th' encumber'd ground 
Were verily with adversaries strown 
Instead if half our strength were put ye gods ! 
In earnest forth," Uproar resuming drowned 
His voice Stentorian Apollyon 
Immediately engag'd ; as if Wrath now 
Really awaken'd, and the militants 660 

Trifled no longer, then ran riot Hope 
With Fear, whilst Madness shriek'd their change to 6 



124 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Sped barbed darts, impetuous lances than 

The fam'd Pellsean stronger, or those long 

Beams with vast labour from the iron-trees 

Cambodian shaven ; wrathful faulchions so 

Dext'rous they segments seem'd of sacred fire 

Perpetual ; and avenging bars and bolts 

Glancing like light, disks of whole mountains wrought 

Down-crushing all they met ; and gauntlets clashed 670 

Eesounding ; scourge on scourges ; shields on shields, 

Shock-broke, 'till murd'rous Rout for pity came 

Nor worse Perdition her rough raven wings 

Wagg'd ever and enchantments horrible 

Brew'd so, the airs they momentarily 

Grew thick and irrespirable, death-birds — 

Fram'd like the Flinder-mice, with deathful glee 

And Terrors like proportion'd round : thus they — 

Fiercer than dogs-Kalmuc, or cub-robb'd bears, 

Or out-brav'd ounces, driven as dirt and dung 680 

Before the ploughshares wholly overturned, 

God's force acknowledg'd crying out that none 

But God had like to that : then hippogryphs 

Leaping unfurl'd the inexperienc'd web 

Wanting to fly ; these from the nostrils and 

Mouth pouring, as the heaped autumnal leaves 

Rapt from some hollow by a wandering wind, 



IN HEAVEN. 125 

In middle air at disadvantage took 

By lightning fell abroad ; for those who rode — 

Their armour fused, these all strangely reached 690 

The surcharg'd ground by millions far worse 

Expos'd than ever, worse subdued nor flight 

Nor feat for them — unstrung : Apollyon — 

His ample count'nance fix'd, oft times advanced 

For the deliverance ; reared aloft 

Bore he heroically through the throngs 

Ready to fall — as swathes before the scythe 

In sultry summer-day ; lancing he drove 

Aside his thousands and with mainful might 

Impetuous pass'd arresting as he passed 700 

Their hostile tramp ; once he alone repelled 

Whole legions in his stronger strength put forth 

Entirely : O if the fallen fatuous power 

Like that possess what attributes are His 

Who made them ! then — as if a god from the 

Walhalla sent the Amazonians charged, 

So he whole squadrons reeling to and fro 

Drunk-like : now with the plectrum ! Lydian airs 

Calliope ! were Homer's ; iron strings 

Twang to his memory as sweating blood, 710 

Over the hills of slain Apollyon goeth 

A ghastly train behind whose homes are flesh 



126 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And bev'rage blood : outlooking whence he ruled 

That war, the Arch-abettor him beheld 

Applauding ; Clamour upon Clamour rose 

Inextricably fused, rallying here 

A chieftain, there the lavish legions locked 

Or trodden helpless down ; the Lightnings flashed 

Growl'd Thunder purple-black as unassailed 

Long time that potent plagued, to Slaughter giving 720 

In thought all then he saw : Tydeus once— 

With more success, the Thebans mostly slain ; 

So too Hippomedon : invuln'rable 

Seeming, Death he encounter'd scornfully 

Defied his best, sating his eyes superb 

As often as from bold exertion ceased, 

He look'd rampious around, his pathway straight 

Left vacant ; none could quell him, Sapharon 

Attempting like a thunderbolt he rushed 

Over his body aiming arlablasts 730 

Against that person but aside fell they 

Ent'ring the ground full ninety fathoms deep : 

Thus more than strong whereto the haughty step 

He turn'd the stream of battle there was stemmed, 

Yet gen'rally it flow'd that unmatched chief 

Sure undermining : Ekriel likewise 

Did tameless things beyond all human reach 



IN HEAVEN. 127 

Of thought ; no cherubim more potent found 

In that day's fighting : careless pride or scorn 

Was his the while ten thunders in his hand 740 

God-full he pois'd ; gallant his spear he shook 

And stalk'd elate : so some Georgian prince — 

Fresh from the harem, thinks to turn the tear 

Of battle with one arm ; reckless he bounds 

Amidst and seems the god, the God of War 

Incarnated in beauty, friend and foe 

Admiring, nay by sympathy compelled 

To love him ; thus this one as half-beloved, 

Half-fear'd, fairest of form he hurled things 

Shiv'ring to see and when he hurl'd the Air 750 

Went "whisht" so far, so fleet, against the wall 

Of heaven it dash'd dead ; or suns detaching 

Sent on before so that this day they drive 

Comets — (unclaim'd when God this side hot hell 

To order call'd ; hence the distress of men 

Of nations when ill-omen'd they gyrate 

Return well-founded was 'till Christ shut up 

Hell in The Bottomless and chain'd the Sons 

Of Wrath for ever down :) his matric'd mail 

Hung pealing peals, from out his causal casque 760 

Sparkles like diamonds from Golconda, or 

Philosophers strange stones, by millions shed : 



128 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Yet, notwithstanding rout on routed rout 

Grew wider, Sapharon and others — baulked 

Like him a moment, rising pav'd their paths 

With dead and dying ! Fright thenceforth their feet 

Attending down the lesser standards they 

Eepeated tore, their bearers overthrown 

Loading the blasts with execrable words : 

Thus o'er continual din frequent arose 770 

The sounds of anguish ; as if craft nocturn 

From th' American against Montreal 

Directed, on Ontario opposed 

By Britishers and nr'd a-down the lake 

Drifting over Niag'ra one by one 

Went headlong, each lost crew their shrillest shrieks 

Forth-sending as the fatal Fall they made. 

Thus dwindled their hack'd hosts despite such acts 
As startle Truth ; their rough resistance less 
And less until where disadvantage pressed 780 

The heaviest a wide battalion turns 
Deflecting on the back : so the great dyke 
Of Flanders in the night-time gradual gives 
The damage ever-length'ning whilst the Villes 
Rush to the breach the burgomasters first 
In act to stop it though impossible ; 
And these two mighties rallying quick as may 



IN HEAVEN. 129 

Spurring their dragons to the gaping gap 
Rashly resisted ; in that bristling space 
Vengeance confronting presently her own 790 

Made the presenters, o'er the delug'd plain 
Victorious : rueing — their red ensigns saved 
With difficulty proud Apollyon 
And Ekriel to Lucifer retreat, — 
His thund'ring mace he lift, Gog, Magog ne'er 
Look'd half so ferine as that Anarch then 
The whilst at both he glar'd ; thus fellowship 
Is to the bad no longer than their ends 
Mutual are serv'd : burning with his reproach 
In his wrath's-worst — repressing it the space 800 

From off his living- seat he swiftly passed 
(All the surrounding gods grew white to see 
Backing through all the being,) mightier than 
The mightiest as the mighty are above 
Men, scatter'd squadrons as they fled ruthless 
He slew, thrice wildering the sight of all 
As fellest that had been ; the conq'rors pause 
Whilst he relentless pour'd oceans of blood 
As Chaos should be slak'd ; Pygmaean like 
Th' affrighted angels look'd — like those beyond 8 1 
The Bacchic Nysa in the haunted grove 
Where Mab and Oberon their courtlies keep 

k 



130 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

When some swarth savage unexpected falls 

Upon them all their trains, their trump'ry made 

Of cobwebs, bladed swords, and moted spears 

Despairful dropp'd ; behind him Ruin shot 

Her arrowy glances, seal'd the overthrow 

Of all he met ; Eternal Death — his strides 

Scarce equalling, with all his rav'nous jaws 

Choke full : so the sworn son of Hamilcar 820 

So too the Maccabee, but premature 

That time was that Arch-trier, but waste work 

For his own en'my doing: mad he seemed 

The whilst the coward rebels with requite 

He visited ; but thus in some degree 

Order return'd Fear in worse shape returned 

To scare those stricken millions, thus compelled 

Unto their duty ; first one legion halts 

And then another, rather to endure 

God's angels than his more tremendous wrath 830 

Profuse outpouring : on that face no one 

Living dar'd pause 'twas like his mighty mind 

Too awful to be studied ; what had been 

Before perform'd by all his potent powers 

Sunk into insignificance compared 

With his achievement ; every time his arm 

He lifted all the chaos the effect 



IN HEAVEN. 131 

Dreading attended, in its swift descent 

Thousands to nothing driven : so at the touch 

Of angry Winter moths, grasshoppers, flies 840 

All disappear ; his pinions to their length 

Measureless flung his winged heels as well 

Accelerating, thus they fade away 

By myriads — nor were missing, — soundless seas 

Own no decrease ; those to Togarmah, all 

The principalities to Msroch, all 

The cherubim Apollyon once ruled 

With Ekriel, and the dominions owned 

By baffled Baal, from his sand-like sum 

Scarce wanted ; that saw he with flushing face, 850 

Inconsequent he argued such a loss 

Nay, advantageous, the worthless dross 

Purg'd from his armies off: then he his arm 

Stay'd nor reluctant and bade shell and trump 

Blow instant to the charge. 

A gonfalon 
Which to a President of provinces 
Belonged they attempt ; Apollyon first 
Wrecking, then Nisroch, on they bore and towered 
Heading six bands — like the Thessalian fixed 860 

Of purpose : how they wasted ! militing 
It well those louring leaders, broad in front 

k 2 



132 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Opposing, overcoming with high hand 

Those who supported or who durst oppose 

Vigor divine to that which hellish hazed 

So long their painted plumes they shook and hurled 

Such as Gath's giant never thought to lift, 

Even in dream : they rag'd ; as Alcinous 

When Dejanira by young Lichas sent 

JSTesseus's robe enduing ; or as gods 870 

Annihilating (did not God prevent,) 

The whole creation : thus excelling they, 

The Parcse round, or such as Parcse seemed 

Tipping portended spears, or barbing barbs, 

And other nameless arms of which the like 

We know not, hissing solid iron clouds 

Sent through the yielding air ; then dire Alarm — 

With putrid corses link'd — high o'er his head 

His scarlet armlengths flung, leap'd maniac up 

And aim'd ; like vultures that upon the vans 880 

Of war flit close anticipating ere 

Sunset a bloody feast, a ghostly crew 

Shad'wy pursue, and o'er those warrers wave 

Impatient wings as if their eyes they eat 

Then then or tore them out : with hurried steps 

Omonoros undaunted follow'd by 

His laden legions met ; over the heaps 



IN HEAVEN. 133 

They dash'd in cubic phalanx brandishing 

The most redoubted arms, and with such dire 

Greeting receiv'd all the rebellious powers 890 

Incontinently pause, Nisroch driven down 

Dead whilst his death-stroke dragon — like the horse 

Of Pterelas, at large with terror back 

Destroying fled ; then Thunder open'd wide 

With all the pomp of Thunder ; Lightning shone 

Unequall'd through the showers of crimson blood, 

And bolts all unextinguishable red- 

Hot hiss'd ; the hideous races pallid turned 

Their face from heaven with all their tilted thoughts 

On opp'site space, numberless others joined 900 

Enlarg'd, black furies from the fire, the flame, 

Undying come — breeding with one another 

Horrors additional ; the field burnt blue 

Reflecting, where they mated mountains rose 

Like Hecla in irruption blasting all 

Their retchings reach'd, whilst with a cruel joy 

The fleering phantoms on the guarded groans, 

Of the rebellious assiduous tend ; 

So felt the witch Canace ; the scowling sphynx 

Lapping bil'd blood intent to lose no drop ; 910 

Whilst the wail-worms of conscience — like the green 

Adders of the Carnatic, through the skin 



134 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Appearing wriggled round and some, some One — 
Or like the claw'd sea-cat, or what beside 
No poetaster wots, with brassy glare 
Was busy breaking up each fibrous heart. 
Now in the air the rebels sorely pressed 
As nearly undefended — for nor helm 
Nor guard of mail were their's but merest robes 
Of lightest texture, happly some a targe 920 

Almost as light as useless, overcome ; 
Such too as had the seraphim escaped, 
And those the snatch'd artilleries had spared — 
Or rather reach'd not their chimseras swift, 
These re-arrang'd afresh, Adramelec's 
And Moloch's added — fled : Calliope ! 
Thy faithful glass presents the lagging Muse 
Doubting description : harpy mingled beasts, 
Gorgons with harrowing voice, and anguish'd roc's — 
Their clenched teeth at horrid work, each roc — 930 
Like Atlas wing'd, a-fiedge, and spirituals — 
So them to call, far bigger than that one 
Biggest on Earth which the old Brocken haunts ; 
Eld eagles bred on Imaiis, or such 
As Australasia own'd — of which the learned 
Examining their bones, astounding things 
Unto the world relate, — such, and beside 



IN HEAVEN. 1 35 

Imaginings of men long held sublime 

Of the elv'd earth-born broods, or sought by knights 

In Teuton times, or those more monstrous mysts 940 

Moslemen fear in Eblis' halls, grotesque 

Are all with ours compar'd ; hill upon hill 

They rose audacious animated with 

New fury, and half-witted hatred nursed 

Impregnate ; on the right, the left they formed 

Like goggling giants by the giants got 

Their propagators dwarfs ; they gloam'd, they glid 

Gangrening, or compos'd God's vengeance dared 

In person of his champions ; hov'ring high, 

Like Pindus, Athos, or like Eryx and 950 

The Appenines all added, they appear 

Huger, like polypi the diver saw 

In gulf of Smyrna, or Spitzbergers think 

Of scraggy Kraackens, or the caked clouds 

Unto some maniac who believes them fiends 

Sent for his sinful soul ; they spoke and then 

It tingled through the auricles unto 

The brain none understanding, as one time 

The friend of the Uzzean Job when (dark 

Fall'n on him) he was question'd, in a voice 960 

More terrible than the artilleries 

"Which — rattling or incubating, that field 



136 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of battle shook, all — but the Throne of God : 

These then the Holy smote adding the limbs 

Unlawful to the lawful, as if the 

Rhinoceroses, batrachides, specked 

Evet-like saurs and crocodiles which earth 

Hath, altogether, own'd since time began 

Unto the present, were collected there 

Cut, slash'd, and slaughter'd in a common heap 970 

With all the horses half-expir'd inmix'd : 

Through them were channels chas'd like those great gaps 

Aurora through the matin shades will force 

Resistless ; Solyphron his dazzling helm 

Topp'd like the train which Argus's ex-eyes 

For the original confess'd, fourfold 

More waving than the Ida queen e'er owned, 

Millions of beamy crests as proud as his 

(Beside him) following, together drove 

Heaps upon heaps confounded ; woful massed 980 

At length together in forlornest sort 

They hew'd, spear'd, spok'd them down ; the harpies last 

Sustaining fled, Adramelec behind 

With matted Moloch, in their hellish hands 

Swords, hangers, maces, bolts, spears, arrows, stones 

Countless they held and us'd, thrust, sped and flung 

Ferocious, — so cast comets scatter fire, 




,!,//;/,■■ 

/ '///u/ni//,/ /■,'' , thousands jpasnsl 

h'/f/, all his ■ • i . ■// arms m </*, 



IN HEAVEN. 137 

Frost, rain, drought, deluge, pestilence and pock 

In their retreat through all the loaded spheres 

They — speeded, traverse ; and had these prevailed 990 

For thee, O heavenly Maid ! I vainly called, 

Or for yon vaulted dome uplift the eye 

Enquiring ; wreaths of amaranthine flowers 

And asphodel for yew, and nettles, and 

Wort-everlasting chang'd ; thy robes — as white 

As Zembla snow black as Illyrian pitch, 

As were the firmament, O blessed God ! 

Beneath thy servant's feet ; angels ! around 

List'ning commemorative chaunt, where then 

Your cordons, crowns, your palaces o'erwrought 1000 

Praxitilean, and the Fortnate Isles % 

Silv'ry surrounded where sometimes we bathe 

In flower-reflecting waves ; the rosy hills, 

Forested mountains, vales with violets vest'd, 

Palm-groves, nepenthe, all the sweets of heaven 1 

We oft enjoy : great Empress ! for whose ear 

The chaunting, where thy bard 1 Adramelec 

Unnumb'd of soul — though thousands 'gainst him urged, 

With all his might retorted arms more famed 

Than were the Gnossian, whistling, whirring, broad, 

Bristling and bloody, ten- times pointed; these [1010 

The angels intercepting all back then 



138 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

They drove : with razed crest, corse, baldric, thongs, 

Belts, cuishes, greaves, cincture, robe rift to shreds 

About him, helmet bulg'd, cuirass indent 

All over still Adramelec so fought 

Some angels they fell back : as well Moloch 

Now high, now low, skirting the victors with 

Perfect address, blazing their faulchion blades 

As blaze great suns in the sur-lunar skies, 1020 

And far they scatter'd wheresoe'er they burst 

Like deadly bombs. — Oh, what a fearful might! 

The fight continuing as they went, the air 

Deserted as for ever on so far 

Into the limitless those adverse pierced. 

Whilst these are chas'd, below a myriad fall 
Afresh on wounded Baal's ; he upheld 
Still ordered implacable, " Disperse 
Tyrannicides!" cried he, " grip, gash them, hew 
The feudals down:" so said he follow'd up 1030 

His precept to his most consummate bent, 
Though bath'd in blood and reeling with his wounds : 
So a grand monument half-ruined rears 
O'er a bombarded city as defying 
All : Of kniv'd Nisroch's there but few survived 
The incandescent hail : the angry Arch 
Unto Apollyon's and Ekriel's dealt 



IN HEAVEN. 139 

A special vengeance ; but those braves who fell 

Upon the meteor-flag they banded then 

In deadly opposition, from the sides 1040 

Collapsing surfeit of such prowess they 

Bitterly prov'd as their impairment showed : 

Then Ephatreen engaged 'till gradually 

The whole on either side, chariot, horse, foot 

With all their flutt'ring banners in their place 

Levied came on ; all the rebelling thrones 

Arose affluent emulous each one 

To be the foremost in this last attempt 

Outrageous ; all the coasts outside those walls 

Of heaven in motion : so the Maelstroom from 1050 

Smallest beginning when the flood runs up 

Between Logoden and the Island grows 

With violent rapidity unto 

Its irresistless might : the seraphim 

Were given to Pharnaspine, whilst Jenrosar, 

And Ophathron the powers commanded both 

Together ; the dominions Myttilon, 

And all the lesser angels : lo ! their names 

Upon a high triumphal arch in heaven 

Are written. 1060 

To this theme Urania ! say 
Who dares the harp profane, or the Orphean 



140 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Take 1 his worse fate than the torn Thracian's, or 
His who in the Eleian field fell : Muse ! 
Symphonious tune. 

Thus were those jarrers joined 
In sweeping battle, conquest in perspect 
To one and certainty of rich reward 
In God's great approbation, to the other 
Shame, rage, and death eternal: Conflict highest 1070 
Assail'd then Haraphon's ; when Pelion on 
Ossa high pil'd Olympus storm'd Triton 
Though with his voice astonishing to flight 
He put the Giants no such shout made he 
As Haraphon and then the wrack came on, 
The rush, the clash, the pause, the retro-step, 
The gutt'ral groan that follow'd the first breath 
Of those who sufler'd : now appalling noise, 
And now appalling silence, Chaos with 
JEtnsean throes convuls'd, strange engin'ry 1080 

Volleying counter-volley, dazzling cars 
Millions now visible the every spoke 
Now all invisible as if they flew 
And more, evanish'd : War then rattled back 
War in succession grave, and charge, recoil, 
Rally and rout, clash on preceding clash 
Followed ; but effectual to subdue 



IN HEAVEN. 141 

The Holy thought, the adversary he — 

Hardly esteeming hope of victory 

Possible, to resist: thus that twain throng 1090 

Close press'd or parted with immortal scorn, 

And hue of cheek that none with paints like ours 

May dare attempt : as in the Tempest's teeth 

The braided Rainbow smiles appeared then 

God's angelry, so glorious their estate 

Shining the while on retributive task 

They were engag'd, — the privilege is this 

Of Virtue calm to ride the storm, to tread 

On asps, to kill them with unruffled brow, 

Thus whilst the Wicked wildly smote at them 1100 

Smiling they thrust for God and his good cause 

Untroubled for th' event : thus hour by hour 

Which seem'd eternal, visibly the crowd 

Decreasing Care next then in realty 

Appear'd, grinding her gums, fixing her eyes 

As if she perish'd but her pulse crept on 

Yet still so slow, that it no measure hath 

Mortal : then from his feast, deepest Despair 

Like Himmel tower'd, alternate fits of rage 

And fear across his farcied flesh pursued 1110 

Each other ; when he breath'd 't was like the breath 

Of Samiel fire-impregnated, and those 



142 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Who suffer'd turn'd fore-token'd in the face 

Expiring : Death was with him 'stonying less 

Than that his minister who shook and shaped 

Himself perpetual half the circle round, 

Fiercer than he who held the Delphic plain 

Python ; lolling his tongue as oft he lanced 

Devouring thousands, terrified for flight 

Some turning, the Arch-gerent seeing they 1120 

Dropp'd instant down and thus great gaps remained 

In the rebeller's squares ; the lightnings he 

Drunk up by oceans spouting them aforth 

From his inebriated eyes as whales 

Spout frantic — in commotion all the seas, 

The shores ; the axles of the chariots creaked 

As cumber'd or unhung, the rattling cars 

Stopp'd grinding, those who drove them down the reins 

Dropp'd but their steeds — no more to trace or bit 

Observant, petrifying lifeless grew; 1130 

Wav'd then the sword no more, or wav'd the last 

Time shining ; blades than the Toledo more 

Sharp — sure unvalued to the ground were sent, 

Or scornful broken ; lifted bolts remained 

Unto the lifter, knotted maces failed 

In the intention, shafts abortive fell 

Like sleet inop'rative, or show'ry snow 



IN HEAVEN. 143 

Unfelt ; so this one figur'd, snakes for hair 

Fringed his face and o'er his bushy breast 

CuiTd bearding: so the deathless Fury looked 1140 

Arming Adrastus with infernal ire : 

Eternal Death enhanced — as a tide 

That ebbs and flows oft times a day, so these 

O'er rocks, o'er hills, o'er vales, ensanguin'd swept, 

Or backward fell — as God's brave warriors fought 

Or stay'd the wearying hand : unto the skies 

They lifted up spasmodic, then a-down 

In drearer deepness fall'n prepar'd anew 

For slaughter ; — thus the battle, wheresoe'er 

The rebel ranks the eager angels met 1150 

Continually flickering through all 

Their marked masses ; underneath their feet 

Writh'd millions irresistibly down-trodden, 

Whilst those withstood turn'd white, and Hate and Scorn 

Clasping fought desolate : so men have fought 

After their homes and hearths were utter gone. 

Then the slouch'd seraph Zabrash flapp'd his wings — 

As doth the condor o'er the lesser birds 

Peruvian, his pinions widely woofed 

As Victory's own : he with emotion none 1 1 60 

May ever tell went forth ; aside, away 

He scatter'd as he plash'd in plate and mail 



144 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Magnific ; labor'd light he rais'd around 

And so illuminated warr'd ; the Winds 

Kept festival, or with a hideous spasm 

Yielded to rain of fire that outward he 

Drove terribly before him whity-black, 

Alive and with'ring ; all the holy as 

He fought seem'd helpless, happy they beyond 

His arm prostrating ; he, impassion'd dared — 1170 

As his co-regents had before him, all 

Those myriads rioting amongst them there 

Like Flame unchain'd, or the unpastur'd Deep, 

Or like the will-wing'd bird (unto the gods 

As Percnos known) when o'er the halved world 

From his aerie darting talon-armed 

With thunderbolts : as if renown bespoke 

Were his, intoxicate a thousand times 

Forcing he tramped through the files of war 

Stemming the ranks; once an entire cohort 1180 

He pack'd like hinds at bay their antlers thought 

Inutile and their haunches sore a-sweat : 

So drove Pholeus ; so Pizarro drove 

Numbers ; disquietude on many seized 

When, lo ! he fell, and Darkness wrapping round 

Signall'd for succour, Haraphon promptly 

Quadrated sped, down-bearing all burning 



IN HEAVEN. 14o 

With rage came he in his collected might 
On Michael's where that seraph senseless lay 
Smit to the death; those who had him hemm'd in 1190 
Those armed terrors stood not, back they urged 
To sound of clashing swords unmeasur'd loud 
A million combating ; but they return 
With raking rout the rebels sore reversed 
Batter'd and broken, dashed dying down, 
Zabrash left far behind worse wounded by 
That rescue ; Haraphon with low'ring 'tempt, 
Foaming, — his baton raised, turn'd again 
Once more for his co-equal ; furious he 
Fighting came on; rung then resounding rims — 1200 
Brass iron found such tongue Steropes ne'er 
From out his anvil drew, targe upon targe 
Concave, the binding adamant oft burst 
With the full shock, the diamond dashings ground 
Or natten'd, all the figurings as well ; 
Concussion of the arm left thousands termed 
For ever, but the angels — yielding, were 
Forced good league — such as they measure in 
The heaven for which the girdle of this world 
Nowise suffic'd ; the captive potent gained 1210 

Back they disgorge like flurried flames from out 
A mountain flourish'd in the breaking sun. 

L 



146 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Then rose th' archangel Michael swift as fire 
As fulgent sweeping on, Gloriel and 
Hadriel on either side; Chaos turn'd black, 
Night blacker them to see ; the phantoms rose 
From off the perishing like ravens scared 
From lifeless lions, and the dogs of War 
Howl'd as they rose to Death ; Despair — Death's-man, 
Ruin attend and all the hag-hair'd ghosts 1220 

Cowring about them, gory-visag'd things 
Beside 'till now unknown the newt-like neck 
Lift up for wonder, and the gen'ral sounds 
Of battle shrink away : — nor these rose sole 
Fell Lucifer was heard blaspheming them, 
Their Sovereign Lord; then scarcely there the ground 
Their feet — like bronze of Corinth, touch'd as with 
A noble rage they pass'd, " Backslider ! thou 
The Lord rebuke," cried Michael, and upon 
Him fell, nor the Arch-agnate unaware 1230 

Who smote unanimously at all three 
Check'd in career the armies, falling back 
The foremost from commotion of the clouds 
Whirling warning as with the lightning speed 
Now one now th' others at their rival rasped : 
" Low slaves!" cried Lucifer, " the Empery 
Of heaven is justly mine ; behold ! how vain 



IN HEAVEN. 147 

Slavish performances," with that he stroke 
Aside their equal blows : then Gloriel cried 
" Chargest thou this, thou criminal to us 1240 

That we prefer our first condition'd good 
To thine of evil ] dismal be thy change 
To mis'ry self-deceiver and such woes 
As pass thy fellows ! " saying this to it 
Again they turn dreadfully, looking fierce — 
Fiercest defiance whilst their every charge 
The universal frame of matter shook : 
Upfiung their pinions their naked shapes 
And lineaments of majesty exposed 
Emblaz'd and supereminent — beyond 1250 

Even the seraphs thought admiring all 
As much they dread as one was seen to smite 
The other so that it should be a writ 
Of vanquishment and irremediless doom ; 
Thus instantly a killing storm of stars 
Their strokes elicit, from their veins the vif 
Nectareous needing oft as they recurred, 
Determining continual as they fought 
Ever the more, the more, immoveable 
The one as th' other, each successful for 1260 

His own immortal nature, oft as harmed 
Self-rais'd to puissance higher : where they waged 

l 2 



148 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

A plashy fen soon was, nor any dar'd 

Seek other place, unintermitting all 

Faces to face : whilst yet this doubtful strife — 

For it was doubtful, lasted stifled sighs 

Were often heard from either army sent 

Such time the foemen smote as butchery 

Inevitable carried; once a shout 

The rebels rais'd expectant of a sweep 1270 

That promis'd sure destruction, through the air 

It went so certain ; Michael then that blow 

Shunning return'd and with so good effect 

Lucifer stagger'd : so an earthquake took 

The tower of Pisa, or that ancient tower 

In Mona — Cherphil though it not sufficed 

For perfect overthrow : th' engagement thence 

Unequal and more horrible with swords 

Frequent they stabb'd, when Lucifer off guard 

All unaware a woful wound received 1280 

The faulchion flying from his faithless hand ; 

Then Chaos, slipping leash in bodied forms 

Than Hades' hound the triple-headed, or 

Those which begat on Sin within her womb 

Subsisting on her bowels kennell'd, worse, 

All the rebellious occupying in wake, 

Instant arose : so Ismenos, so rose 



IN HEAVEN. 149 

Also the river Xanthus all their beds 

♦Uncovering : serenely these the three 

Archals observing whilst from off the feet 1290 

Those myriads urg'd, down their wrath-weapons fell 

Upon them seething Death ; Night too that scene 

Instinctive sought; like the Cromyon sow, 

Phsea ; or like Euryale she rushed 

From all her confines ; in an ague she looked 

Frighten'd into a pale : the miscreant dames 

That into batten 'd bats themselves transform 

And through the Scythian wildernesses flit,— 

Spheno or Philogave less horrid are 

Than she that time sheath'd up into a shape 1300 

With such a flashing — if not eye, instead ; 

Dismay came with her, stony as a stone, 

Elf-lock'd and gnawing — spitting out her tongues, 

Sunk down like Pisonses her evil eyes, 

Broke through the skin her bones, — upon the wings 

Of Night just like a vampire sits sate she 

Half-furr'd, wan, foul, aghast, and evermore 

Hung on unto her mother's dangling dugs 

Thrown over her smutch'd shoulders ; Terror twinned 

Minister'd frenzy with his hairy hand 1310 

But not so long ; a radiant light from forth 

The Mount of God sped forth and chas'd the tin 



150 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Afar with orient arms : so Phoebus Nox : 

The Holy then betaking to their swords 

To purpose put effectual, Wrath before 

Ravaging, Solitude as grim behind; 

Thus they upon the regal centre won 

Flashing continual up, blaze upon blaze 

Expir'd as they return upon their course 

By the artill'ries turn'd, for still were served 1320 

A million, all the brutish beasts yet staunch 

Unto the rebels ; long their utmost force 

Thus they adventured, with might and main 

Borne charging down, scourging the pre-fac'd ranks, 

Their gay and glitt'ring robes dispread abroad 

Upon the lightning, grinding all the rock 

They trampled ; as they came great globulars 

From that conflict arose ling'ring a-while 

On high or whirl'd beyond ; (in after times 

These form'd what mortals call " the Milky Way," 1330 

Or " Way of Light," o'erarch'd and studded thick 

With these bright scintillating sparks which stars 

Appear to some astronomers ;) alway 

Thus they received them in such orderly 

Phalanxes join'd many would fain desist 

And did reposing on their answer d arms. 

Then from the ground one wrenched a mountain stone 



IN HEAVEN. 151 

Hurling it quoit-like ; down it ponderous fell 

On Pharioch, Aspathyn — it was he 

Who hurl'd behind as quick, incredibly 1340 

Hewing — cut through maintain 'd until the rest 

Of his leagued legion winning to his side 

Deforming fought ; thus at the end was broke 

That centre, many a ring concentric drove 

The inside out, planted the heavenly flags 

Instead the false, Destruction to surcharge 

Cramming damn'd Death : O ! evil time was there 

To Evil just outside the walls of heaven. 

Thus with avengement adz'd the angels doom 
Completing brought to narrower degree 1350 

With deeds of glory ; Empire long had been 
Unbalanc'd, Hope extinguish'd, life alone 
Remaining unto that unvanquish'd crew 
With dismal disappointment ; but for this 
And Herod-hatred down their arms were flung 
And vaguest Void with their arrival wild : 
The odds increasing fast in fiendish fight 
Malign, on edge their teeth, their standards round 
Fought they ; with marble brow and studied step 
Pharnaspine then advanc'd his deep'ning eyes 1360 

Fix'd on the ensign haught Togarmah owned ; 
Unutt'rable he look'd the charged ranks 



152 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Supporting scatter'd welter'd thousands then 
O'erthrown confounded ; perilous his way- 
Won dizzying down he tore : Exampsal next 
Took nighted Nisroch's : Ephateen at length 
Had Haraphon's ; Jenysar, Myttilon 
Apollyon's and Baal's : Obazur 
Rent Ekriel's to rags the bearers cloven 
Down, the surviving regents that had owned 1370 

With shatter'd arms and woful wounds abroad 
Sent fugitive. 

Now with the loss of that 
First ensign the proud Principal gone wild 
Precipitates himself right onward on 
His enemy ; before him none could stand 
On either hand driven back — like billows which 
A hull well-launch'd compulsive drives on heap, 
Heaven's warrers stay'd distrustful : blashing light 
Uttermost he put forth as Godhead, none 1380 

Such prime e'er saw before — not when he smote 
At all the three archangels in what seemed 
Supremest mode : Aphorotine he met 
Reversing with Charthason to his aid 
Courageous come ; others that interposed 
Felt deadly : more than vain their seemliest swords 
Ompthos and Areon uplifted as 



IN HEAVEN. 153 

They saw his shadow, shiv'ring on pass'd he 

Invincible expressionless his scorn 

For such opponents though toparchs they were; 1390 

Michael and his co-adjutors sought he : 

To meet long while they essay'd but like great 

Ships driving furious down propelFd aside 

By the embroiled waves, often they turned 

Oblig'd away when near or close at hand : 

Vainly his vagrants were undone it seemed 

If this the head remaining such sore sport 

Could make ; it was a myst'ry ; why not God 

Now from his own infinity come forth 

And since none others could Himself an end 1400 

For ever make of the apostate sect ? 

In this the Author ! such the anxious thought : 

Exandus then a desp'rate effort made 

With those great godlies all together linked — 

Five mighties that to match five legions scarce 

For each sufficed, these his road bestrode ; 

Callous came he — aloft his head, his eyes, 

Despising such opposers as his hand 

Raising with twenty sullen thunders he 

Drove down upon them; rustling tumult then 1410 

Was to those worthies as the lengthen'd mile 

They gladly wing'd aside, their pinions wide 



154 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Derang'd, some feathers even as appeared 

Ruffled or shed. Thus supereminence 

Writ on his countenance — though dash'd with lines 

Expressive of a pain for what for whom 

Known best himself unto, whelm'd he aside 

Ten thousand thousand ; once the lustrous gate 

Of heaven reaching as if he alone 

Would enter : thus : no mythic tale of Mars 1420 

Nor of allianc'd gods Roman or others 

Who fought within the limitary earth 

Name, this had field as wide as Chaos 's wide 

And arms befitting ; the Erynnys none 

Eound comparable : thus, most confident 

That day with gesture grand a second time 

Antagonists he sought as if hardly 

Any were worth him : the archangels fired 

As if within their eyes Almighty God 

Verily liv'd and look'd, their heart heav'd up 1430 

To highest to a tempest lash'd the soul, 

Vengeance for their obedient — both his ears 

Sharpen'd to hear the least, mass'd magazines 

Of arms collected by him for this hour 

Priding he held black, baffling, brazzen arms 

Some reeking still the blood for he himself 

1 1 ad proven every one ; thick missile showers 



IN HEAVEN. 155 

Girdled had he that ready were to fall, 

Fasces unbound and yet in his apt arms 

Together for occasion ready kept, 1440 

And as he went three more than Lyssian bows 

He joined at the ends with twang that winged 

Unerring arrows ; over his haught head 

The likeness of a skin with tushed teeth 

Thrown grinning horrible ; nor Lucifer 

If unattended less, in clouding cloud 

Envelop'd, sparkling all his wings with eyes 

Deadliest dark, far far beyond his reach ; 

Steel too was his well tested, spear had he 

That through the bodies of a host at one 1450 

Chance cast had pierced, and O ! beyond the stretch 

Of the imagination, arms beside 

Which he the Sovereign Power of Arms reserved 

Jealous unto himself, to me arms known 

But which for ever shall remain unknown 

To others lest the mere mere mention kill : 

Thus tow'ring he prepar'd for final fate 

Prodigious, plausible resolved — if God 

To conflict came as victor to survive 

Maugre the ill experiment with his 1460 

Archangels : Horror guarded then, long strides 

Before them taking : level were their wings 



156 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Flying as well impatient of delay, 

Carrying scoop'd shields — such as the sun appears 

To Oxmantown, forged of iron, brass 

And adamant, through all the capp'd convex 

Burning intolerable ; close behind 

Far more intol'rable the bearers burnt 

Dreadful or scowl'd, the fiery seraphim 

Eclips'd or neutral as the noony flames : 1470 

Name no Olympic, Pythian, Alb an field 

Of mortal mem'ry where with royal pomp 

Mighties have met for heathendom or heaven, 

At Aspramont, Damascus, in Tartish 

With Morescoes, nor tourneys of the courts 

Of Haroun al Easchid and Charlemagne, 

Baldwin or Saladdon : a sudden clap 

Of thunder rolling through unclouded skies 

Struck mute the beasts, the birds the next attend 

In terror; thus the gods, the blinding blades 1480 

Of all in half short stroke the moment that 

Arch-one the three encounter'd, face to face 

Back driven the space as far from this unto 

At least our moon : from thence their iron-winged 

Tempests unloos'd under their rattling shields 

Blazing they break, blade-broken, back again 

Resistless from each other dead-like drove : 




"Hi also >/<■!! a i>""i /X/ '' cteruUun. skies 
Pursuedhj i'li'/i'i'i" vehement and oh 
Trims* endanl /L>n/r and Ete> "''>' ■"/ 



IN HEAVEN. 157 

Then solid stars they hurl'd, whole stars at once 

Down-fall'n with dreadful crash scattered, or 

Rebounding ball-like, rocks, and rivers, seas, 1490 

And oceans spilling in the action out : 

Again they — formidable, met the scales 

Of all their armour sounding, many a clasp 

Broken in Lucifer's, his starry belt 

Loosened, — that he felt : again : again 

Contending, every time contention wrought 

Unto perfection so that the terrene 

Shook shatt'ring ; at the last on Michael's spear 

Impal'd lost Lucifer with thunder came 

So terribly with such a dread redound 1500 

That the chaotic aggregate went rock ; 

Rock ; rock, dissolving ; all the rebel hosts 

That yet surviv'd fall'n down as Chaos fell 

Falling as if for ever : Lucifer 

Fixed awhile enduring but at length 

He also down from the ccerulean skies 

Pursued by Vengeance vehement and oh ! 

Transcendant Horror and Eternal Ail. 



THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 



BOOK IV 



THE ARGUMENT. 

The Poet alluding to certain wrongs addresses a false shepherd and 
then hastens into the action of this Book, which gives the description of 
Lucifer's descent from before heaven to the sun : he musters the discom- 
fited angels. Several speeches as to what had been and what should be 
done : Lucifer appoints Night to his throne, and parts in search of his 
remaining hosts. The spirits of Slaughter : Lucifer's accident. The 
angels in heaven observe him wandering in space ; description of hell 
(given by one of the archangels,) to which the spirits of all slain in the 
war just recorded had been sped. 

Time : the second day, early. 



BOOK IV. 



Hunted by packed Perjuries (condemned 

Unrighteous,) from my early chosen home 

In rural Avalon and all my heart 

Lamenting loves, in banishment like his — 

As unendurable, who tun'd his lute 

In Tomos to the rude Sarmatian boors, 

So, Empress ! I, abstracted from my wrongs 

Thus celebrating His to whom I've cried 

Appeal the Judge of Judges who shall mine 

Judge: Thou, who holdest in unhallow'd hand 10 

The golden key of heaven, of hell the iron 

Burnish'd so bright that last the wicked take 

To their eternal cost, that one for th' other 

Rusting ; incestuous murd'rers to the Feast 

M 



162 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of God encourag'd whilst thou drivest back 

Those by the Master bid, thou who hast clomb 

Into the fold unweeting who are there 

So long thy belly's lin'd with meats, thy back 

Clothed in fleece that to the flock belongs, 

Worse still than his assured curse is thine ; 20 

But O ! our Galilean, haste amain 

Bespeaking, if not for his sake for those 

Who hungering look up from him to thee 

Unfed, unfed except with windy chaff 

And push'd aside to that where dragons lie 

Devouring many pawing them unclean. 

Return, return and let mine anger pass 
Like mists before, Calliope ! thy sun 
From the horizon rising ; Thamyras 
Methink who anciently the Pagan Nine 30 

Meeting they struck him blind, others as well 
In Scio or in Albion born whilst I — 
Learning these bases supernat'ral loud, 
Thou Muse ! thyself my tympanum hast broke. 
" Admetus's were taught the pipe but thou 
The harp" the maid replies op'ning mine eyes, 
" And they became so happy that the gods 
Fearing lest mortals happier should become 
Than the Olympians, the preceptor straight 



IN EARTH. 163 

Unto Elysium call'd ; and Plutus see ! 40 

Like Fortune blind but thine shall be restor'd, 
As is thy happiness : " from blessed heaven's 
Unto the earth's imperial throne she points 
The finger and, Augusta ! sounds her shell. 
Thy strain I strike ; now let the song proceed 
Best judging goddess. "Ai!" Lucifer 
Cried whilst the depths he dark'd his livid lips 
Smoth'ring to purple as with speediest speed 
He drove confounded down : Mcenutius flung 
From heaven, nor Phaeton hurl'd by angry Jove, 50 
Nor he who fell in the iEgean isle 
From the meridian, no such journey made 
Nor half so swift as the Arch-felon then : 
Three times did he resist his total powers 
Opposing that down-throw in vain ; reversed 
His gravity which as a spirit up 
Nat'ral aspir'd God- ward now down as much 
Compelling, he (no longer self-controlled,) 
Came like a falling star : beyond the term 
Of time, through the immeasurable wilds 60 

Of space he plough'd, through uniformal blank 
Until the voices of the living lost 
Apostates in discordant manner smote 
His auricles : he overtook present 

m 2 



164 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

His frenzied hosts frenzied the more to see 

His fall, for Darkness horrified his face 

With all his habile hands ; as on came he 

Like a fire-isle, like Stromboli a-sea, 

Their solid span was cleft and all through void 

Scatter'd. 70 

And this was Lucifer above 
Son of the Morning, to the paeans of heaven 
Outcast ; — not to that star in after-time 
Call'd Phosphor when the moon in place brought round 
The one of all the plane tars which shine 
Most beauteous, (this the magians erring taught,) 
But to the sun — in the succeeding war 
Shatter'd to pieces the hard nucleus sole 
Remaining, all his sev'ral parts detached 
His satellites continual coursing round ; 80 

Beyond is Canis where now Sacrael rules 
All the circumference : in the Balance reigns 
Gabriel — although the flamens Venus said, 
As in the Scorpion Mars, the Archer Jove : 
The other five archangels rule beyond 
Unto the seventh in which Jehovah holds : 
Thus through the inessential went he, 
The boundless nought closing behind in waves, 
Until his sadd'ning shadow o'er the orb 



IN EARTH. 165 

Darken'd : with wide but nerveless wings, his hands 90 

Advanc'd to break the forceful fall upon 

A boiling sea he shot : in cat'racts too 

Full prone his angels dash'd, gorgons, and gryphs, 

Chimaera's, dragons, beasts, or birds or both, 

Or neither, — like that later creature brought 

Down by enchantment from the circle of 

The moon, with all their reins and trappings broke 

To pieces ; nor Geryon's look'd like them 

When human flesh they wanted ; nor like them 

So passing the Propsetides: the cars 100 

Were dragg'd behind, batter'd, and banged, beat 

Together in great intermingled heaps, 

Whirling the wheels, or in each other locked 

Total ; spokes, seats, and steps, bodies and all 

Indescribable came, as once the car 

Solar in ruin fell at Tellus' prayer, 

So that the waves drove to and fro through all 

The wildernesses roaring, or in mounds 

High perpendicular affrighted rose. 

Long there lay they afflict, shuddring, and mute, 1 10 

Wing-broken and half dead, 'till the abyss 

Listened moveless hung : with fear convulsed 

Parch'd, blood-stain'd, bleeding they, like those who take 

Narcotic with the irritant poisons mixed — 



166 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Opium and pmssic acid, madness theirs 

As if sea-crabs and adders made their stings 

Within the stomach whilst a demon binds 

To silence all the motors of the tongue 

Turning the issues right upon the brain, 

Red-hot, or through the sinciput and spine. 120 

Then the fallen Emp'ror in his agony cast 
His woe-gone eyes abroad : dreadful he saw 
Outspread upon the dark chaotic — spaced 
With fire and frore, deep yawning, gloaming, glued, 
His myriad angels drifting as if life 
They at that moment lost astonished 
Deplorable : delirious, all his pride 
Recalling, Memory beat down, Ms hands 
Spreading, his feet asunder on a rock 
Planting he call'd; electrified heard they 130 

Assur'd : so when that emperor exiled 
From Elba to his vet'ran Gauls addressed 
His well-known voice, enthusiastic hope 
Of sack of cities rushing back to mind 
They throng'd around, so these but he — surprised 
The audience contemplates, in number less 
Than was an army when nine full-equipped 
Boasted a regent : loud he summoned 
The residues, instead up from the waste 



IX EARTH. 167 

Of waters like Perimele, or one 140 

Of the Echinades to islands changed, 

Or like a murkier melancholy Death, 

Pierc'd with uncounted shafts right through and through 

A sable Shape : ;; Thou! call" sigh'd Night, " no more; 

When I tied forth, ruin-involv'd they went 

Apast beyond me ; none shall overtake 

Breathing:" she ceas'd e'en Lucifer convinced 

That numbers not avaiTd, and calculating 

What his reverse, what too the priceless cost 

Of billion angels gone he knew not where, 150 

Counting the sad remainder as one plunged 

In debt a sum incompetent a dark 

Prison in prospect, harmonizing tune 

To the occasion thus attendance called. 

" Gods ! deities ! all indestructible 
If shock'd and damaged by the result 
Of war, nor shall we miss those who remain 
Wanting if firam'd as I will have anew 
Our future scheme : warriors ! the victory 's 
Xot altogether lost; nothing is lost L60 

Save time which no occasion to regret 
Have the eternal ; we shall conquer yet 
This be believ'd. with grateful recompense 
For sun 'ring — hymns to truth and freedom str 



168 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

In the resounding skies. What though we had 

A battle, 'tis but one ; far as we're driven 

Michael as far and his exulting hosts 

Joying in that within the heavens they're safe 

From this right hand ; had Chaos kept his ground 

Thence had I follow'd through the open gate 170 

At which we thunder'd 'till for shame they oped : 

Regalities ! such scars they carried back 

With them to heaven long that well-foughten field 

Shall they remember, with repented pains 

Distrusting that the Throne so sternly shook 

May one day fall ; it must : despondence scorn ! 

The flower of those we led in arms are here 

Despite th' Almighty — change shall surely be 

In that bad title. Danger, toil, trial 

Welcome if serv'd our object; we shall yet 180 

Empty the heavens : now, now methink I see 

The Tyrannizer on that danger'd Throne ; 

O Thou ! for ever watchful lest I rise 

And seize it I defy Thee : sleepless as 

Thou art, O thou Rememberer ! thou find'st 

Thine enemy, impassive Raised-One see 

'Thine everlasting foe ! nor keenest pangs 

Eating the soul shall make me e'er despair 

Of thy damnation : on thy Name I spit ; 



IN EARTH. 169 

Pour fire in cataracts, hot thunderbolts 190 

Hail down, and splitting thunder thund'ring drive, 

Drive uttermost again, thy blasts let loose, 

Rage, rain, and ruin'd oceans overfull 

Of plagues upon this crowned head outpour 

Here am I Unrelentor ! I survive 

To imprecate thy Person, and to break 

The course of thy imaginings so thou 

Shalt tire of hearing, seeing, and tormenting, 

And of thy Godhead e'er my malice cease, 

My parched tongue, my mind supreme remit : 200 

Go for knee-worship to thy craven crew 

Multitudinous ; no praise no prayer from us 

Thou proud Exactor ! hope ; treble our pangs, 

Sliver us with large lightning we retort 

Unmeasured back : O God ! that thou wert but 

Chain'd down beneath this adamantine heel ; 

Welcome it all, this latter lively hope 

I cherish, cherish : crawl ye moments, hours, 

Eternity crawl on, baffling where'er 

A sanguine look I cast, the change must come : 210 

(O for the Book of Fate that I might count 

The distant year, and sum these suff 'rings up 

Squaring the two:) with an unbroken heart 



170 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Will Lucifer hold on, divided sway 

So long maintaining just so long as one 

Unspended bolt unto my grasp remains. 

What horror his when undefended down 

For ever and for ever he is hurled ! 

I breathe, exult, ye rolling suns this hand 

Swept from his vaulted skies, to changes gone 220 

Lightless ; thou Vast so fill'd, attend ! I swear 

By all I've won and lost, and all the fiends 

That cry me " Father!" Chaos, Night, and Death, 

Against him death : hark ! the Abysm calls 

Unto Him — bound as in a fearful spell 

Or why not answer \ down the thunders flung, 

The lightnings as impotent — shuddering he : 

Moveless and mute he sitteth : hush ! thou Nought 

Rock rocking heaven no more until I plant 

Myself upon that Throne His Crown my own." 230 

He said recov'ring, shaking up and down 
His plumes, and parting back his matted hair : 
As when a starry lamp in liquid heaven 
Long ages burning heap'd with crusted fires 
Zephyr disturbs a myriad purple sparks 
Shedding around, he, through the glowing waste 
Like show'ring. Then Ekriel, with thought engorged 



IN EARTH. 171 

And ninefold rage ; his eyes with fury bled 

The whilst — like a petard burning long while 

He thus exploded in their very midst. 240 

"The damn'd reverse! our beaded brows betray 
How deep : O reprobation ! ache ! dost thou 
By empty sounding words th' accursed past 
Gloze I truth I ne'er will shun if thou our head 
Advanc'd as emp'ror doth. Undone are we, 
Defeated, the whole blame nor Chaos's 
But to our shame our own, and shame so great 
'Tis here disown'd, as if disowning we 
Had valuable gain : beguiling god ! 
Hereby we lose who can so ill afford 250 

Reduc'd so lasting low : forbear, forbear 
The metamorphose of the real to that 
Which unreal is. If we suppress vain tears 
'Tis wisely done, nevertheless the cause 
Which prompts deny not nor the dang'rous wounds 
We have receiv'd the while beneath thin skin 
They fester worse." 

He ceas'd as Linesung 
Sudden irruption, all the crowding hills 
Connagrant, all the province from the sleep 260 

Fearful arous'd : so those his auditors, 
Chief the Arch-speaker, like a Sophi in 



172 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Durbar after lost battle rude bespoke 

By some bold bashaw. Then Zyninthrine thus, 

" Tis so regalities ! war we have waged 
Hating and hated, lost, and if we live 
By respite it would seem since Lucifer 
Himself was overcome. Have we not left 
God's service rather than concealing truth 
Do violence to nature ; shall we that 270 

Practise to please another so much less — 
O Lucifer ! than God 1 If as thou say'st 
Freedom survive we serve nor him nor thee 
Against our conscience, and this fact shall help 
To nerve us to endure two-sided wrongs : 
Put off the style of majesty therefore, 
This vain outside for it but ill sets off 
A shatter 'd crown the jewels lost. Now gods! 
Drown'd, driven from heaven, defeated, curse the day 
That Chaos whelp'd, if — as to him 'tis charged, 280 

To him we owe. Wondrous it is that God 
Should so advantage from our first Ally ! 
But Night remains unto us, take some cheer, 
Much may be done our Agnate thinks with Night 
Although she fail'd or fled : the jealous King 
Who holds the supreme Throne, with soundless step 
She yet may take his usurpation brought 



IN EARTH. IT 3 

Unto the end ; O Lucifer ! thou said'st 

Hope no where else remains. Over this world 

Look out and so revolt the eyes, and rend 290 

The heart : who, who the difference can bear ] 

'Tis black, the trees are fruitless, pools with brine 

Scabbed supplied : O for the sparkling springs, 

The green ravines, the vallies, ambient airs, 

And fleecy clouds we've lost ; the veined-leafed 

And amber-stemm'd delices of the heavens : 

O for our happy homes deserted left 

For ever, by the tributary streams, 

Lakes, seas, or on the hills, or mountains reared 

Magnificent, our sylvan seats, our bowers 300 

Whereto the winds in visitation rare 

But seldom came and when with fresh'ning love 

Gladding the flow'ry shades. Yon wither'd waste 

With a few stunted shrubs and thorny trunks 

Observe, and O my peers ! this hollow gourd, 

This fungus, growing from the viscid earth." 

Gath'ring, thus he, and one like Jonah's showed 
Unto them, and some apples which appeared 
Sodom's fill'd in with alumm'd ash, or poxed 
And putrefying cores; and aconites, 310 

Nightshade and such like others : so convicts 



174 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The desolation and accompanying things 
Of Dieman's Land first saw. 

"Gods!" then cried one, 
"Into th' original gulf of things had we 
Fallen 'twere better." 

Then one said, " It were, 
This is intol'rable." 

Another cried, 
" Heaven we have vainly lost, our thrones, our all." 320 
Most unto him confess'd. Apollyon then — 
Confronting Ekriel as with disdain 
And turning from his party on the back, 
Contemptuous spoke. 

" God of the gods !" cried he, 
" That is thy name whatever hath befallen 
Thy arms, thy fortune ; take my full consent 
Resignment never. Hitherto vainly 
We have opposed Fate, what then % we feel — 
Suffer the consequence : let cowards rue 330 

Degenerating, self-despising souis 
Such we had not suspected in the ranks 
We rul'd, nor thou amongst thy princes. Now 
Why not to heaven ambassadors despatch 1 
Repentants ! with your importuning prayers ; 



IN EARTH. 1 75 

Cherub ! thou Zyninthrine from us depart 

With a long train of suppliants, and with 

Your art assiduous make experiment 

Of God in all his humour, liberty 

Forswearing — ye would Lucifer, yourselves 340 

Apparently forsworn, and servitude — 

Abjectly fallen on your faces, crave." 

So that bold leader ; Baal — in his hand 
A shiver 'd spear, as with a hectic pale, 
Join'd thus. 

" Our Emp'ror ! irresistible 
Or why were three archangels forc'd when thou 
Met them and more than once : dread Lucifer ! 
I hail thee, nor as long as thou persist 
Will anything despair : angels ! though long 350 

Descent is ours ascent more welcome be ; 
If transported, the heavens surely remain 
In the same place, and some of us may drive 
Yet through the open gate tyrant, and all 
Scouted with hurry hotter e'en than ours : 
This makes the present tolerable. Doubt 
Disdain ; be gods ! for if heroic deed 
The worth assur'd far other case were ours ; 
For this we charge not God. Call not defeat 
Repulse what we have to regret, devise 360 



176 THE WARS OF JEHOVAFI 

In subtlety, undoing this event 

Undoing God ; these are his bitter dregs 

Let ours be bitterer ; within this soul 

Abhorrence sits with all her teeth well set — 

Not one is loosen'd, unto sea and sky 

Her eyes in search for Vengeance ; Death his jaws 

May gratify with my person, but the soul 

Beyond them all with the accustom'd eye 

Watching remains : to me alike are life, 

Death, heaven, this uttermost if that were but 370 

Accomplish'd ; that — implacable, pursue." 

" Chance — in good time," thus Haraphon, " our good 
Cause may befriend ; ye gods ! that we are free 
Sufficeth if but true ourselves unto : 
We must succeed, our hatred be fulfilled, 
Our just revenge. O aggravate not worse 
By our own voluntary act ; contemn 
These losses, restoration to our thrones 
Certain : in this emergency forbid 

Useless comparisons ; occasion wait ; 380 

Despair not, we shall yet uprise. Meanwhile 
This present place be order'd ; mirror it 
With solid imag'ries, and massive quoins 
Of a palatium for deities 
Mete ; trench our camp above the wat'ry heaps." 



IN EARTH. 177 

Ord'ring he said, and scarcely said when from 
The ground the palace rose : so once upon 
The navel of the earth the mansion of 
The Scandinavian gods ; so Neptune built ; 
To lyre Threicius : in the midst, beneath 390 

His burning feet the Anarch's gorgeous throne 
Aurif 'rous rais'd him up high above all 
His coped host upon the pavement — white 
As the Pentelic, left; an altar bye 
Smaragdine with great rubies, finer pearls 
Than Ormuz boasts, and amethysts than those 
The Tyrians copied, crusted ; with a crown 
Upon it for but One design'd nor fit : 
On pillars that with most in heaven might well 
Compare the dome ; great castellars were reared 400 
Such as Sostrates' dwarfed ; Dinocrates 
Had died for grief and envy but to see 
The smaller turrets machiolated, walled 
Most solid, and upon foundation laid 
Of basalts : — lo ! some ruins to this day 
Through all the Hebridean islands, Skey, 
S tafia and others lie. Like some proud Czar 
Deeming Byzantium his, himself enthrones 
That sanguine potent, in his secret heart 
Nothing concealing with his lips the more, 410 



H8 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

"Thou Ekriel!" he paus'd as if the call 
Should wither him away, " the right is thine 
As ours thy thought to tell ; unlicens'd thou 
Hast, but thou speakest false ; if we were beaten 
God's angels were not satisfied by our 
Present condition ; if their will they had, 
If vict'ry as pretended where wert thou, 
Thy seconders % behind their chariots dragged 
In triumph not perversely speeching here : 
Ye deities ! I err, his legions fled 420 

Before their master ; yea, thou wast undone 
And thine, but One remain'd — whate'er was done 
To thee or them, God's champions dar'd not look 
Nor Michael in his face ; who God shall hint 
The song of vict'ry % if one were so rash 
Th' archangels smarting with their hurts at once 
The folly met reproving, all they have 
For trophy Ekriel's banner ; Chaos ours 
UnravelTd, unto the infinity 

It floats as God shall find ; infinity 430 

Ours. Throated gods ! because some blood is spilt, 
And some are scratch'd or scarr'd, shall we in awe 
Stand 1 like condemned slaves ; perish the thought 
And thou complainant there, forgot the day 
When thou pronounc'd an oath to conquer or 



IN EARTH. 179 

Die. That reverse should have one conquest, shame ! 
Where are your trusty hearts, your free-born souls ] 
O scandalous ! If now I thought despair 
Confirm'd, th' Imperial Crown of Heaven I scorned 
As scorning those by whom that crown was forced 440 
Upon me forc'd, for power to none I stooped 
Soliciting, nor took by force nor guile — 
As One before had done ; none offer'd for 
My on'rous office, none oppos'd when I 
Took not obtain'd it : interest forbids 
The least despondence as your honour doth : 
Despite the Lord of Battles we will win 
Renown : ye princes ! battle is to come, 
For this the pall around us thrown I lift 
Regath'ring." 450 

Then Apollyon unto that : 
" That which we scorn 'twere wrong to call it ill 
As hath been heard ; experience yet may show 
'Twas good disguis'd, and shall if, Emperor ! 
Thy forces from exilement are restored 
To our embracing arms : but since that wreck 
Of Chaos was, gone is the total whole 
Through space, the stars drive swounding through the air 
Each by the other generally stormed : 
Over that scene to rule no sceptre 's forged 460 

n 2 



180 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Since his is gone ; rocks, plains, seas, syrtes, flood, fire 

To thee although inconsequent, beware ! 

For us the vestiture of majesty 

No more remaining in the place cometh 

What thou conceivest : necessary 'tis 

For liberty that one as settled stand 

Heading the whole." 

O inconsistent! this 
Doctrine preach'd he, disown'd when to revolt 
Senseless they turn'd : thus said, the orator 470 

Expectant of an answer that should leave 
Him chiefest of the rebels ; this observed 
The fellow potents — politic as proud 
Then Baal thus. 

" Thy lofty throne the while 
Vacant ; who us shall bid ] yon wildling waves 
Too truly symboliz'd our bad estate." 
Gloomy look'd Lucifer considering 
The germs of dissolution, unto him 
As the red rash that in the arm-pits come 480 

Of the plague-fasten'd : heretofore he ruled 
Dictator all unquestion'd ; now one dared 
To contradict and all the rest expressed 
Distrust of one another : what to do 
He speculated ; even then the flames 



IX EARTH. 181 

Of discord scorch'd his hands and dispossessed 

Many a ling'ring hope dang'ring the last, 

For though with all his order'd forces he 

Had signal fail'd yet he design'd to arm 

Once more the residue, nor quite despair'd 490 

If fearing the event : so one within 

The law of noble birth, through the thick mesh 

Though guilty hopes to break, dreading the while 

The judge august. Then he — concern'd, rose up 

His frame enlarg'd apparently, his brow 

Severely bent, upon his eloquent mouth 

Impress'd such resolution none may turn 

And few oppose ; he beckoned to Xight : 

That leman gath'ring up her fringed veils 

Darting black rays of inconceivable gloom, 500 

Unutterable rose, terrific, dread, 

And with a goddess-like deport slowly 

Sweeping the length of that most kingly hall 

Approach'd the seat of power ; the vision'd steps 

She mounts like Demogorgon, as if she 

All the sworn-secrets of the universe 

Guarding contain'd in most tremendous form 

Of deepen d Darkness crown'd with horns opaque : 

So a mock sun at midnight vapoury, dim. 

Spiked most wonderful, encinctur'd round 510 



182 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

With unilluminating crescets raised 

The one above the other : of such parts 

Was she to seat her scarce that throne sufficed 

Though Lucifer's who seem'd but was not heard 

Something to say as with a grim resolve 

She sate ; so once King Croesus ask'd as low 

The dubious oracle, and in return 

Night answer'd that apostate ; so two Winds 

Under the centre met, sometimes commune 

Half-inarticulate, fearful mankind 520 

Watching the awful whisp'ring scarcely breathed 

Yet tingling up : omnipotent she looked 

When forth she stretch'd ten inorganic arms 

To take his sceptre like ten lightnings forged 

Into a dreadful rod : obscurely then 

O Muse ! we saw what follow'd ; faint I turned 

Thou also fainted'st when entwining both 

The power of Lucifer her vacant veins 

Filled like smelting blood ; her spirit growing 

Colossal burn'd and roll'd, and roll'd and burned, 530 

Like a black comet tangled with an orb 

Flaming together : outwards out she shot, 

Shook her portentous hair, madd'ning ; O the 

Intoxication then ! to false repose 

That Reprobate returning in her arms 



IN EARTH. 183 

A moment and — -uplift, contagion swilling 

Of madness : so the great Black Sea reflects 

The cloud which carries thunder, all his face 

Shining as jet, when the Vulturnian or 

The Msestral joined out the livid fires 540 

Plentiful gushing sea and sky together 

Both mingling, curdling, cleaving seem to burst : 

A sightless fire within her cheeks burned 

Right through her stony skin revealing more 

Than yet had been reveal'd her mutt'ring lips, 

Her bosom cover'd with blood-letting teats. 

Meanwhile Adramelec's with vengeance driven 
Long through the waste obscure, discomfited 
Fell upon Sirius, which the vulgar dread 
When with the Lion through the Zodiac posts 550 

The culminating sun ; Moloch's as well 
In millions, that vast continent the shock 
Hardly sustaining : there — recover'd, they 
Erected thrones and o'er their numbers reigned. 

Now Lucifer with respirative gasp 
From the earth's edge out into void sprung forth 
In his right hand a spear that radiance threw 
Long way advanced, and at will sustained : 
Down in the depth of the deep deep he plunged, 
Down, down with all his might, down in the dark 



184 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Profound, 'till thinking on firm ground he came 

To plant inequilibriate he fell 

Reeling : so a balloon collapsed, shift 

The ballast ; or a ship ill-stow'd capsized, 

Unto the bottom forcing overturned : 

Thus through the blankmost he, a meteor through 

The darksome night ; or like some wizard wild 

The moon eclipsing as he journeys blue 

And fiery by turns, the gloaming vales 

The utmost hills lit up : so he oft-times 570 

List'ning if ought he heard imagining 

He had, and flying or exploring slow 

As if for want with pains of hunger gaunt : 

Around he glar'd ; once in career he fell 

Startled, his heart as low, over his head 

A long fire line descriptive of th' extent : 

So when a great tarantula from off 

A tree, the glitt'ring web behind he leaves 

Floating the length ; or on some errand dire, 

Cyllenius sent from the fool-fabled heights 580 

Driven perpendicular ; then a great globe 

Rush'd past, and then another, all the airs 

Confusing, and behind in wake from out 

Infinitude with blast, and blight, and blur, 

Astonishings — all brain, and drunk desire, 



IN EARTH. 185 

Angrily flashing inwardly sore racked, 

Confluent creatures from the ends of space 

As if she spawn'd them : what th' embodied cranes 

Of Caysters springs in number unto these ! 

Owls or sea-eagles ; O ! unchanted leave 590 

The spectred spectres, steaming up, or down, 

Raining, or driving in his face like hail 

Fast, and from all about, with famine waste 

As Erisichthous' ; voiceless thoughts had they 

Streaming unreal, their lidless eyeball raised 

White, black and bold : none in the lowest depths 

Of natron — bitt'rer than the Astrachan, 

The devil Asmodeus rules ; and if 

From out his caustic elements he joined 

All Hecate's in the dark Chaonian woods 600 

With cypress, yew, beech, holm, and pitch-tree, rilled, 

And all the elder of the Sister- fiends 

Coerces ; all Veia, Erictho and 

Those Macbeth met were added, not the half 

In number they nor horror : vomiting 

Some shed their biles, their bloods, their hearts upon 

Their fierce progenitor, (that Anarch was 

Their sire for these were of the slaughter bred 

He had committed;) horrible they frowned, 

Frisk'd, fought, or fled affright: so out to sea 610 



186 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

An eagle-king, pells, pettrels, pindadoes 

Ominous flit, and dash, and dive, and skim 

Continually around an hateful kind, — 

Like these nonentities that still defy 

Realization; shadowy things like those 

Reported of a church-yard by some wight 

Escap'd erect his hair and all his limbs 

Palsied : and then their livid art'ries burst 

With various putrid slime, over him all 

Spended : Oblivion with earnest voice 620 

The Miserable call'd ; the hoary Deep 

Oblivion held blindfold and gagg'd, in fear 

And agony but with resolve ; then out 

His blood-red hands he stroke, as if he would 

Eternity have dead, unable to 

Bear those accusers longer : in the Day 

Of Doom the children on the parent — both 

Condemn'd to everlasting fire, like these 

Will never look ; Orestes look'd not so 

Upon his mother the Eumenides 630 

At hand : then hate was verily performed, 

Confusion rush'd amongst them scattering 

Their crooked lines ; aside he flung right, left ; 

So cyprids some strong swimmer, all the waves 

Around him rippled fir'd ; but as he swum 



IN EARTH. 187 

And swept spots fouler than the leper's blots 

Were his, their nervous parts discharg'd as he 

Destroy'd them following unto a zone 

Stretch'd out like Saturn's belt ; shapeless it stretched 

But solid ; unaware against the rock 640 

Like a huge hulk drove he ; his body split 

Instant apart and from the gaping gap 

The Spirit look'd half-craz'd : oh ! what a sight 

Was that, nor like Sagana, nor yet like 

The Tuscan coasting the Tyrrhenian shore 

By Circe chang'd ; Sin to that Sprite did more 

Than Circe could to him ; a man and beast 

Are greatly different, oh ! how much more 

Angel and devil into which Sin turns 

All her lascivious lovers this the first: 650 

Foully besprent were his marmoreal limbs — 

His golden plumes, and carking cares displaced 

His every feature, but that carious sprite 

That then, O Muse ! we saw ; that fev'rish thing ; 

That monstrous monster with the long blue hair ; 

That perfect Misery, disfigurement 

Of body left like grace ; her dragon womb 

Was spongy as immufning that she tore 

Up with large handful hands, and in such heat 

That surely it was exquisite delight ; 660 



188 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And still a hidden strength continued hers 

For yet she died not : all her bones were stripped 

As bare as those which hungry jackals leave 

To bleach upon the mountains ; but her bones 

Were not like bones ; nor yet like Chaos' bones ; 

None these could see unblench'd nor gods, for men 

As soon they saw those shocking shaftless bones 

To serpents they degraded, like that one 

With immortality as Nicander tells ; 

O hideous ! Lucifer saw charactered 670 

With such abhorrence as were vain to tell ; 

Then back she slunk and he resum'd his way 

Priding again as in the life secure ; 

But what he carried ! With the lightning girt, 

Grey ashes in his wake instead of flame 

So fleet he sped — as if the gates of Death 

He burst, the gulf which Void itself engulfed 

Bottom'd, behold him in his pathless path ! 

Uncertain as the Labyrinthine maze 

The Argive trod ; or that iEneas sought 680 

Hades- ward from Thessaly ; or impious men 

When wind they secret sow surely to reap 

In season whirlwind. 

Now in holy heaven 
The morning hour was chim'd when on a cloud- 



IN EARTH. 189 

Capp'd hill like Alyattes ; having slept 

From toil and sweat of war and triumph too, 

And bath'd within a lake fed by a spring 

Than Ilyssos in which Tritonia purged 

More pure, more od'rous than the Chien-tien ; 690 

All that had warr'd and all they left behind 

From all their cities gather'd, on that mount 

Rejoicing they a grand triumphal arch 

Inaugurated. His Vespasian's arch 

Were scarce a stone ; and that one lately raised 

A-nigh the Tuilleries no more : then trumps 

Were blown, and cymbals rung, thundered drums — 

So them to call those instruments prepar'd 

By heaven's Beethoven, others mix'd bassoons, 

Sheccles, and tringles silvery, and voice 700 

Accordant from such choristers as chose 

In the dilation of the heart to join; 

There they with celebration on the spot 

Where Lucifer in time bygone his laws 

And mandates promulgated through his wide 

Vice-royal realm : Around in hero-heap 

Were helms, casques, plumes, crests, vizors, corslets, thongs, 

Belts, baldrics, gorgets, cuirasses, gemm'd greaves, 

Cuishes and sandals, cinctures, mantles, chains, 

Trappings of armed mail, uncounted arms, 710 



190 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Swords, cutlasses, frizz'd faulchions, hangers, steels, 

Bolts, maces, shafts and lances, arrows, bows, 

Spears, jav'lins, darts, disks, retiaries, slings, 

Gauntlets and lashes, scourges, all together 

Carelessly thrown, with bucklers, targes, shields 

Mostly to pieces riven, and even cars 

And chariots, and the trappings of their steeds, 

With the strange engin'ry which erst outside 

The walls such clatter made though vain and worse 

For those who prov'd them; One brought Zabrash's arms — 

They stripp'd him where he fell, elab'rate wrought [720 

With half — and more than half the hosts of heaven 

Exact enchased battling, Zabrash marked 

Ever the foremost and wherever he 

Flight show'd the back ; upon the breastplate God 

Was figur'd also flying, nor in time — 

From that swift seraph's still uplifted arm 

His Bodily was pierc'd as with a lance — 

You almost heard it sing ; with passion wild • 

The Passionless was represented there 730 

Turning an anguish'd face on Zabrash round, 

O blasphemy ! 't was thou who that conceivedst 

And pictur'd. — Muse forbear ! Athcoron brought 

A shaft of which Antrashing was as proud 

As of his Macedonian Latraeus ; 



INEARTH. 191 

Sothor a club, Almonides look'd so 

When he Alcides' handled, 'twas so huge : 

Another brought the skin from both his hands 

Slipp'd by a wrathful wrench — by Orinos 

From Acer, wrestling they ; Cercyon king 740 

Of Eleusis ne'er wrestled as did he 

Nor Simnis half so cruel ; " Go thou to," 

He cried, "for I will quench thee," when, behold ! 

His epidermis yielding he drew back 

Agoniz'd ; one good thrust ended his pain 

Of body, but his soul ! Tryometon 

Added an axe ; the giant Sciron had 

Hopeless attempted but the heft to lift ; 

With it he sped the owner Crimenos : 

Thrynown the harness of that dragon brought 750 

Which carried once Togarmah ; Sterops such 

Rings, buckles never forg'd, and yonder moon 

The collar might go through, — beside him ten 

Of his companions him assisting brought, 

Praising Zarael : for Phrymour others add 

Spoils equal of the gorgon that he slew 

When Baal had his wound ; that horse Neptune 

Boasted had it imagined a hill 

When down they threw it, so exorbitant 

It was; nor less th' appointments of a gryph 7(H) 



192 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Which grinn'd at Hylasoph, — Ugolon rode 

That one, a better horseman than was e'er 

Castor the Constellation, and he fought 

As Craeus wonld had he been set astride 

One of the strong Strymphalians — which fed 

On man, their beaks and talons made of iron ; 

Unshapen it all look'd : Hallar who drove 

His chariot like Antolycns and swore 

To drag ten angels at the tail, Amphon 

Deliver'd from the reins — inwoven light 770 

He brings them there : though Triron tore it down, 

Motonsinoth had sav'd some shining shreds 

Of Zabrash's banner ; sparkling these were shown 

With wonder, blazing still, the shades of Night 

Crossing the woof: thousands of colours hung 

Revers'd that to the lesser gods thrown down 

Had once belong'd : tens'd thunderbolts were brought 

Innumerable, and of every kind, 

Single, and sharpen'd, or like bundled rods 

Twenty and more, with lightnings girdled round 780 

To keep them ; some had painted plumous wings 

Beside, whilst all the effigy had stamped 

Of Lucifer upon them ; those he hurled 

Were few, but few could hold them, fewer lift 

From off the ground when idly down they fell, 



IN EARTH. 193 

For when they came full point no one could hope 

Ever again to find : others there were 

In sort indescribable arms to which 

We scarcely dare allude with which that Arch 

Was hung all over, when a cherub boy 790 

The fretted lyre which heretofore belonged 

To Lucifer discover'd ; up that hill 

Of hills sped he and as he sped the strings 

Swept, out discorders rush'd — like winter-swollen 

Torrents o'ershot from perpendicular cliff's 

Upon a stony beach ; or like the sharps 

And flats of a great organ, all the notes 

Nat'ral designed withdrawn ; great was the fright 

Wliilst myriad thought-born Shapes divinely bright 

Glancing like birds, arresting drove them back 800 

Over the battlements, the instrument 

With horror sent close after, all the strings 

Resilient crack'd : then Gabriel in the void 

Surpris'd beheld — like some far errant sun 

Refulgent, that great Anarch to and fro 

Winging irregular the gen'ral heaven 

Trooping to see, lining the skiey towers 

Billions of billions. 

" Mark!" cried he, " ho^ strange 
That destituted angel scours or shoots BIO 



194 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

At random through the vast : this Lucifer 
Is necessarily from yon earth'd star 
Adventuring with purpose be assur'd 
Conceiv'd in pride and malice." 

Hadriel then ; 
" He journeyeth in search of what is lost 
Not heaven, to this hardly would even he 
So soon direct his eye, but to that globe 
Nearly approached; that his object is 
Where yet two regents reign o'er those we drove 820 
Through the beclouded air. Nor difficult 
To guess what such an adversary prompts, 
Vengeance as to th' illimitable range 
Of his Almighty power Jehovah is 
Magnanimous, — doth not that license show % 
But boast not God, this attribute moreo'er 
Exactly squar'd unto our express want 
To prove true fealty which this ingrate 
The opportunity incont'nent gives : 
And ye who fought rejoice ; ye who remain 830 

Untried in action Lucifer e'en now 
Intent on war plotteth for your just turn : 
O the infatuate ! the Prince of all 
The rebels though he be, boundless beneath 
God, how demented ! space a point — or less 



IN EARTH. 195 

All time a moment to the Known Unknown 

What from his vergeless vision lieth hid 1 

All the Seditions with a word had he 

Ended hnt heaven repell'd them, Chaos fled 

And Night in their essential persons, who ? 840 

We witness'd who behind ; behold upon 

Our arch the shatter'd glory. How he coasts 

See ! the broad disc discov'ring as 'twould seem 

Now first that star, revolving in his mind 

What part to play when present he rejoins 

His legionaries ; mutual are their stings 

His to abhor such instruments the while 

They 're used, and theirs his comp'tence to suspect : 

Thus in the circle they are self-deceived 

Deceiving ; they alone whom Death Etern 850 

Hath dispossest inform'd of the extent 

Of misery consequent on the fact : 

Those in an element to which the airs 

Of lightning are like balm eternal die 

Bound round with living fires ; yonder they wheel 

Where yonder stretches, yon ! too far to see." 

" That is their miserable fate for aye," 
Said Sacrael when the archangel ceased 
Trembling — as did the rest of that great throng, 
" The past it is inexorable both 860 

o 2 



196 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

For them as us also, nothing can move 

The everlasting fixtures — ours in heaven, 

Theirs in a Hell for by that awful name 

To the inconsolable lost 'tis known : 

There giant worms of fire continually 

Crawl, cling around, or crunch those tortur'd souls ; 

Their dreadful groanings diapason make 

Unto the hissing snakes. Thus ill from ill 

Flowing continual terrific shapes 

Habiliments put on that change but for 870 

An aggravation : in my sleep I saw 

Their dungeon'd deepness, black unutt'rable, 

And sooty, measureless by any eye 

Finite ; an under darkness, vast, abrupt, 

And pinnacled with antres curved huge, 

Grim, wild uncertain vistaed, maw'd enorm 

O'er the rapacious deep, and Guilt — a thing 

Most fiendly, with ten thousands like to her 

Congeneric, Scorn, Hate, Mock'ry, and Crime, 

And Infamy with the worst sting of all, 880 

Through all the passing elementals of 

Damnation flash'd or flar'd : my spirit saw 

Adoring God's great Justice thus at length 

There vindicated while in heaven unchanged 

At His right hand all passionless she wait. 



IN EARTH. 197 

Nor — though lost Lucifer the first to fall 

And these through him as proximate, excuse 

Find they ; self- victimized ne'ertheless 

They really are, and when Despair extorts 

The truth from their parch'd lips as frequently 890 

He doth, they that acknowledge damn'd the day 

Of their creation some with dol'rous drone 

Dreadful to hear, others with laughter loud 

More dreadful still, so as to be hardly 

Endur'd the spectrals dancing ; strange ! these sights 

Moveless I saw, nor ruth nor pity mine." 

"O say not strange !" cried Uriel, t; since thou say est 
God's justice thou adored'st ; none may come 
Between us and our Maker ; sympathy 
No room finds there our souls so close they lie 900 

Unto his Father-heart : those who would come 
But drive us yet the closer and thereby 
Shut an eternal door against themselves. 
Affections there are two, intern the one 
Given to our Creator, and extern 
For those in whom his image is reflect, 
In these 'tis lost as unto God they 're lost 
As well themselves, alas ! and us unto." 

Earnest but calm he said with look benign 



198 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The whilst that Sacrael in agreement bowed 910 

The head : then Gloriel rejoin'd : 

"Agreed! 
All these are as we hold baffled no more 
By seeming contradiction than by truth 
More than apparent which O Uriel ! 
Thou makest this though glozingly it looked 
Before thy handling : yet may we not start 
To hear such accents mild such scene describe, 
And feel unusual awe that princes who 
Once occupied beside us mighty thrones 920 

Are thus reduc'd and ruin'd 1 if by deed 
Suicidal — they are, we none the less 
Regret the painful fact, not for their sakes 
Alone but ours, nay God's — if I may use 
Such an assertion and be understood ; 
For what is fate 1 but the result of will 
Appointed free, and one so desolate 
Surely those powers ne'er contemplated though 
That mitigates not the most graceless guilt : 
Had they reflected as they should they scarce 930 

Methink had sinn'd, this therefore we regret : 
Lucifer none may palliate, doubtless 
The risk he saw in all its magnitude 



IN EARTH. 199 

Immensity to call; delib'rately 

Hoping to win 'gainst God whose Throne he aimed : 

O Impious ! what a dateless period that 

Denied him. Yet but speculations these 

What in such minds revolve we may not know, 

And since God thus permits th' apostate spirits 

To be self-plagued, none may gainsay nor plaint." 940 

"If," then spoke Raphael, " all were free to sin 
With grace preventing this were to reward 
The sinner and to make a fee of sin 
As if in wantonness : given sin is — 
Nor wanteth that an argument, if good 
(Bless'd be God's Holy Name,) be granted then 
Th' existence of the two corollaries 
Inevitable have. Almighty God 
Is infinitely good, sin equal bad, 

Even the far antipodal bodied 950 

First in that Lucifer — unto himself 
Left, all his followers for ever cast 
Out from the Light Divine. Necessity 
In things there really is but none may plead 
Hardship in that when as a consequence 
Not cause it comes and knowingly invoked. 
Moreover such the constitution is 
Of Error turn he cannot back to God 



200 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH IN EARTH. 

In his own ruins stubbornly he lies 

All unrepentant — save that ruins there 960 

Instead of God's he finds : if desolate 

He feel, not for the cause but the effect, 

Embitt'ring more his fault ever the more 

He ruminates, parent and nurse at once 

Of progenies that on his vitals live : 

Thus are the rebel crew in their distress 

As far from thought of aid beseeching heaven 

As heaven is off, curses not prayers their strain." 

Thus those archangels reason'd reason good 
Of will and fate, foreknowledge, misery, 970 

And providence ; well if mankind alike 
Had argued so avoiding endless maze 
Of passion, apathy, what evil was, 
What good % with purblind argument the whole 
Confounding — as a sorcerer confounds 
Together holy and unholy things. 



THE WAES OF JEHOVAH. 



BOOK T 



THE ARGUMENT. 

Lucifer arrives at the star Sirius and seizes Adramelec's throne. 
Various speeches, the Arch-gerent encouraging the rebels that their case 
is still hopeful. He returns with the greater number to the earth, or 
more properly the sun, which had been built upon and fortified during his 
absence. 

The second day still continues. 



BOOK V. 



Now where corrosive airs the ambient space 

Edg'd the Arch-gerent like an avalanche 

Torn from a mountain's brow came thund'rino- down. 

Unto that sickly star where his two chiefs 

Held empire on; the atmospheric shock 

Excruciatingly his latent nerves 

Reached, but he endur'd ; the privilege 

Is this of the immortals ; evil things 

Stellar, or inter-stellar, moist, or dry 

Are all reduc'd bv the alchemic lungs I < I 

Of angels : through the stratic mess or mass 

Of thick'niog cloud fierce urging pond rous he 

Precipitate the smoking passage made. 

Distant had he been seen : so some galloon 



204 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To rendezvous at Cuba, rising but 

A speck on the horizon through the Gulf 

Of Mexico descried : like savages 

Myriads collect where likelihood most was 

For meeting nor postpon'd : sparkling his eyes, 

Whigs put to utmost with impetuous speed 20 

Came Lucifer a shout tremendous raised 

Of welcome recognition as he came. 

Thus like young eagles on th' uprisen sun 
Gazing look'd they, praising those starry plumes 
Which carried him so far through gloam and gloom, 
And more his royal heart which to them turned 
So distant, that his glory with loud voice 
They sound as to an idol and as God. 

In rage and fear Adramelec upon 
His to tt 'ring throne attends : Pelias once 30 

The tumult Jason caus'd like manner heard : 
The habitude of rule, if some, O Queen ! 
Forego as Diocletian, or in times 
Modern the Spanish emperor they both 
Had reasons of such gravity as forced 
Those acts spontaneous-like ; angels hold on 
Faster; Adramelec, his blood-shot eyes 
Glowing like basilisc's, beneath the dome 
Competent made for millions and just now 



IN EARTH. 20.") 

The sapphire floor crowded with all his gods ; 40 

Thus he, around haggard a faithful few 
Dreading the echoes all the time they list 
Ovation's trump. 

" I swear !" that princedom cried, 
" The vain Pretender to the thunder ne'er 
Will we again subserve, Our pillar'd thrones 
In heaven were yet our own but for that Brand- 
Bearer, that Death-getter who us thoughtless 
Induced for his sole benefit to join 
A desp'rate game. O what a spectacle 50 

Was the Conspirer made, what dire disgrace 
Was put upon him ! in the sight of all 
Outside those walls of heaven. Fellest of all 
He is, the gloomiest ; like his dragons gone 
Past the endurance : tidings none we sent 
Him of our exigence what doth he here ] 
But for his damn'd ambition. He commenced 
Professing his intent to equal God 
If not surpass him, but equality 

Same time to us held forth ; we equal are 60 

His fond pretensions foil'd : shall we permit 
Him what we God denied'? we are betrayed 
For in his words implicit confidence 
Putting we all rebell'd : gods! we're betrayed." 



206 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Raging thus he, all his assembled lords 
Looking assent prepar'd by him to stand 
Despite what came unto their deafen'd ears 
Shaking above their heads that lofty cope 
As if to bring it down : so once they heard 
On the Seven Hills — the Allia crossed when rude 70 
Brennus came on, and like Papirius one 
Nam'd Nebo (whom the nations after owned 
A god to the Araxes,) handling arms 
As prompt to use them — meteor-arms had he 
Under his ceremonial robe, thus spake. 

" Are we not gods % in heaven they liquor pour 
And viands offer the superior Lord 
Though absent, none for Lucifer hath this 
Propos'd nor done. Without him we were well 
Better since the three Archals drove him down 80 

Blasted ; O now eternal shame were ours 
If diff'rence we acknowledg'd ; after that 
Never : and if the Arrogant as drunk 
With bad celebrity concession claim 
So oiTring insult to th' indignant gods, 
Alone will I avenge them, I will plunge 
This dagger to the hilt. Where were the use 
Of all his armaments of chariots, horse 
Flying and footed 1 brac'd although we were 



IN EARTH. 207 

Embroider 'd, shining, varied in our arms 90 

Buckled, encas'd, girt, bound in panoply 

That seem'd invulnerable, loaded with 

Polish'd, and golden, beamy, sharpen'd, winged, 

And fatal shafts, or headless, tough'd, and crooked, 

And barb'd batons, clanging, ringing, crashing 

Irons as fatal, fatal but against 

Wrong'd deities ! our sacrificed selves : 

And how he Lucifer against his own 

Could and did use them ! We have him foregone 

If not the gangs from out these halls desert 100 

Committing treason personal to thee 

Adramelec ! howe'er here we abide 

Him insolent if boldly here he dare 

Th' impostor come." 

Thus he when through that court 
Thousands on thousands rushing like a sea 
Filled the spacious whole ; the arch'd concave 
Resounding back expressively such roar 
As millions make : the Coliseum vast 
At the Naumachia or such other games 110 

The Caesars gave never like that one filled 
O'erflowing : in the midst — unnat'ral glare 
His as he saw Adramelec upon 
The boastful throne his irresistless lord 



20$ THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Vindictive Lucifer : upon them he 

Tramp'd as an earthquake tramps ; or like a lion 

Upon a lair of lizards ; or like one 

Upon a fire, extinguishing, the chiefs 

Also Adramelec with panic seized 

Passing away. 120 

Baring his pallid brow 
His arm advancing there enthroned, firm — 
Fix'd sate that Arch-ambitious : so engirt 
By craven councillors and Romans round 
Maximius look'd : he speaks that perfect pause 
Breaking — as doth the gun that signals war 
To empires ; they too near backward recede 
Stifling a groan and like a refluent wave 
Over the audience a terror drove. 

Like as a panther — all his bowels stung 130 

With drought, when nothing in the pool he finds 
But hard'ning sand so he, as if his throat 
And blacken'd tongue the offices of speech 
Refusing were compell'd and he would fain 
Swill oceans of their blood: "Gods! gods!" he cried, 
He stopp'd as if for want of speech, again 
A moment after shouting, " Gods ! what's this \ 
Conspiracy in person of your head 
Against the Common-weal ! scath'd though we are 



IN EARTH. 209 

Now worse ; we inly bleed ; a something yet 140 

Divine we hop'd e'en in the lowest, these 
Immitigable baseness these suppressed 
Wholly deforms. The slave ! with eyes askant 
He saw the gods around me rallying true, 
The perjur'd coward ; coward for I saw 
Him flying from his post, and now aping 
Divinity, behold the appareil! 
Call it not hopeless that we are undone 
In our first battle ; wonder not 'twas lost 
With this example : Chaos I had charged 150 

Before, and now Adramelec with all 
We suffer. Disagreement ! rashness rank 
Betraying the last chance. Sorely reduced 
Already cannot all together meet 
Unanimous ? methought a common cause 
Had that at least ensur'd : now Folly comes 
Dagger in hand our new design to stab 
In the conception. Reconcile with this 
Disorder hope I abdicate to serve 

The reconciler. Fast confed'racy 160 

Closer than ever e'er the more we loose ! 
We undivided reign or if with God 
None him beside, and Kingless be his Throne ; 

p 



210 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Eternal hate to him so long he live 

Fearful, as he shall find more with delay 

Of execution. If astray we come 

From those proud towers, and Vacancy within 

Our ranks finds ample room ; so long as I 

Withstand fortune's retrievable : if God 

To martyr this firm spirit for a fire 170 

Upheap'd the universe and utmost wrath 

Exhausting kindled it, from out the smoke, 

Or the transparent flame calmly would I 

Face him unalter'd mould'ring flesh and bone : 

The thought remorseful — if in any heart 

Remorse arise, let perish. When we warred — 

And some were slaughter'd, none a tear expressed 

Save those which briny hate alone extorts ; 

Yet will we not repent, as soon shall God 

Whatever follows. Let the lawny mounds, 180 

And incense-bearing dales, and sleepy seas, 

Mellifluous airs, the radiant skies o'erthrown, 

And ebb and flow of light translucent be, 

The time shall come when from these dismal deeps 

Rising with glad surprise we find them ours 

The heritors dethron'd and dispossessed ; 

Conviction like to this consuming cares 



IN EARTH. 211 

Kender endureable, nay welcome since 

They but increase our forces requisite 

For the fulfilment/' 190 

He — with effort, ceased 
Sanguine : so some great disaffected prince 
Defeated by his paramount persists 
E'en to the last the halter round his neck. 
Then one call'd Ziphroth hastily arose, 
Over ten legions he ; unto the seat 
Of his escheated principal he looked ; 
Then thus. 

*• An infidel unto thy cause 
Great Emp'ror ! that Adramelec to ours 200 

Ever the same: he goes, so let him, from 
These hosts another name more worthily 
The vacuum to fill. Behold our sum 
And let the tyrant in the heaven of heaven 
Pale : that Adramelec unto his post 
Was manifest incompetent ; when on 
Came Michael's, through the wide concave as if 
Not wide enough he stretch'd, and myriads drove 
A-back no one behind the shock to bear ; 
No opportunity my legions had 210 

But driven — in the event upon this orb 
Were forceful dash'd ; witness these arms unsoiled 

r 2 



212 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

As others witness : if Adramelec 
Rul'd afterwards, thou Emp'ror ! we obeyed 
But thy lieutenant, learn'd, if he not learned 
As prov'd just now, what discipline demands." 

Then Rassach — like a lion cag'd together 
And anger'd by a libbard, rousing cried 
The while he shook his crest " Thou braggart, liar ! 
The absent to traduce, is that thy part % 220 

Though I not vindicate 'tis not for me 
Others to justify but this I hate — 
As much the Godhead on his Throne I hate, 
Vaunts like to thine seeking to gild them o'er 
With that which daubeth more : lo ! at thy side 
In rank commanded one whose weapons ill 
For lacquer match with thine, this plate and mail 
Indented show that one nor distant fought 
If yet not thou." 

Indignantly he ceased, 230 

Ziphroth uprisen with intent to hurl 
At the insulter's head ; whilst there he aimed — 
Rassach observing with contempt, the gods 
Around in vast commotion such their risk 
Thought they, that moment Moloch at the head 
Of his uncounted came filling the floor 
Impetuously so quick they Ziphroth from 



IN EARTH. 213 

His leger feet remov'd, his challenger 

As well : so some swoln crocodile a pard 

Drinking he threatens when a swarthy troop 240 

From Darfour journeying sore athirst the two 

Unheeding either separate : Moloch 

Imperial look'd as in cherubic state 

That gorgeous fane he trod ; with steps full slow 

As kings on earth they meet so pass'd he on 

Where dazzling his Seducer sternly sate 

The Honor'd of the gods ; darken'd his brow 

As on the second step that regent stepped 

Then rung that starry cope, Moloch — his crown 

UndofFd, off'ring to speak his magnates round 250 

Close throng'd and trustiest captains : this his speech : 

" We greet thee, Emp'ror ! to such capitol 
As here thou occupiest, ill-designed 
For the imperial guest better upon 
Th' Almighty's seat enthron'd his angelry 
Captiv'd or serving as one time was hoped 
Alas ! how vain. From this his throne came one 
Unto my own, O Agnate ! if this tln*one 
Denied, as one which none beside rightful 
Could mount, our compact spoilt when Michael put 260 
Thee — us unto his test : nor that deny : 



214 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

What was the treaty made 1 equality 

With reservation to thyself so long 

Only as thou against Jehovah fought, 

Confirmed the nine regents in the place 

They previously enjoy 'd. Good faith we kept 

Concerted : we have fought under thy flag 

So long as to maintain against the foe 

Who rush'd upon us possible ; now where 

That flag \ that we shall rally, rallying bow 270 

Unto the owner : if the Primate fly 

From his engagement or by force or choice 

His seconds are exonerated. If 

Thou wilt fresh league, propose, but we protest 

Against compulsion nor will e'er submit 

No more to thee than God by means unfair, 

And here we are : Adramelec the thrones 

Elected; to the cherubim around 

I owe my elevation ; interfere 

Not with their just prerogative^-since thou'st lost 280 

Return'd in all the amplitude it had 

When in the heavens we 'Lucifer' proclaimed." 

He ceas'd, consenting murmurings upon 
His closing sentence falling; to him joined 
Another call'd Darpathrus, bolder still : 



IN EARTH. 215 

So Mirabeau, Danton, surrounded by 
The canaille. 

" Lucifer ! that throne," cried he, 
" Thou hast by treason and if wrath be checked 
Thou misinterpret not, if Scorn forbear." 290 

Then out nash'd high his sword millions more 
Following with such high injurious words 
As men enfuriate use, but one was heard, 
" Thy charge, false creature ! to thy chatt'ring teeth, 
And as contemptuous : thou ! who failed'st thy due 
When sworn to pay it, thou ! t' incriminate 
Thy betters ; pois'nous scorn be thine, thy praise 
Nor partial that e'en that we deign express." 

" Forego !" cried Lucifer the while he stamped 
The thunder rising as with gloomy power 300 

Impress 'd in all his looks unto his feet 
From off that throne he mov'd; "forbear! if I 
Unto this em'nence came Adramelec 
Was thought the first to welcome but deceived 
Was it, O Moloch ! fit that I should stand 
Humbly below ] Regalities of gods ! 
Is my great majesty so dimm'd that ye 
Imagine me unsceptred? I derive 
No honour from the heights which ye desire ; 
Invest no more such trifles, rather turn 3 L 



216 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To our necessities, for this came I 

For such good counsel as ye have to give 

On theme of gen'ral interest, even how 

Light, life may be recover'd : nothing there 

I see impossible if impossible 

Ye do not make it ; heaven 's within our reach 

From these wild shores ; no spot shall me contain 

Outside the heaven ; grand deities ! is this 

So charming \ that ye droop the idle wing 

Enraptur'd ; here my straining vision seeks 320 

A glimpse of light celestial ; shall they say 

The gods are stroke so blind their world appears 

Fitted to their bereavement % whilst with lyre 

Some fav'rite minstrel sings of dole and death 

To notes unmeasur'd, some even report 

With triumph what as spies they here have seen. 

Even were this star like that which used to gild 

The coronet of Morn, encircled round 

With silv'ry airs, and furnish'd in like mode 

With amaranths and palms, and viriate shrubs, 330 

The roseate skies above us, purpled orbs, 

Rainbows, and crystal moons, such blandest bounds 

The sons of Freedom kept not, Pride forbids ; 

What we aspir'd to once we still aspire." 

Like pleasant dreams before them this discourse 



IN EARTH. 217 

Floated : few angels thought much less had hoped 

Such thing as possible as he affirmed 

Most possible and with so good a grace 

As half-convinc'd them all : assenting signs 

Exchang'd around some thought accomplishment 340 

With such indomptive leader — whom no fate 

Could bend, still likely. This immurement then 

Insufferable seem'd the while he sketched 

What they instinctive lov'd and glorious change 

Yet hoping, in their count'nance was reflect 

Each scene as Lucifer its term expressed : 

He saw exulting : so some beauty — ripe, 

The sly seducer ; gamester stakes increased 

Not at his cost ; and once more uncontrolled 

Himself abandon'd to the like deceits 350 

With such success he practis'd : thus it is 

The best sophisters oft themselves persuade, 

The wicked have their dreams and more than dreams, 

As sin is self-deception in the light — 

Broader than noon, of the Omniscient God ; 

And some are tranc'd so deep that if one rose 

Up from the sepulchre they would not hear. 

Then he, who afterwards as Pan was known 
On earth, and worshipp'd by the Dardans — since 
Saturnia goddess-mother was deposed 360 



218 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

With all the Cretan Court, the Corybants 
Instead to Cybele, the Pharian swains 
Osiris decking him with ears of corn 
Fresh-gather'd ; and since then — th' Idalian doves 
And Cyrenaic sect proscrib'd, to him 
The wise ones of the world Pantheists called 
Their fulsome homage pay, (out of the mouths 
Of babes and sucklings God shall them confound,) 
He rising, thus. 

"Gods! whilst we live, live free, 370 
And hope : thou Lucifer ! say'st hope and live, 
Here I take up no ref'rence to the past 
Making 'twere bootless even if not worse 
Unless maybe we made God insecure 
And therefore still more arbitrary. Now 
Where are we ; if to better our lorn lot 
Possible % are the queries, what the means ? 
How from this uttermost and where our way 
Wing through the shatter'd Chaos o'er the vault 
Above the stars 1 where the faint smile of heaven 380 
Beams forth celestial. Eddying we may whirl 
Unknowing whither, by the axles ground 
Of errand worlds. Doth any know the line 
Unto our cardinal 1 through wrack and waste ; 
All, all is peradventure. Some may here 



IN EARTH. 219 

Insist that if we — we degraded down 
Involuntarily the while in thought 
Soaring unto the canopy above 
So undistinguishable stretch'd, our plight 
Were no way worsted : the experiment 390 

Try, as unlikely to succeed as there 
Are points unto the circumspace — but one 
Right ; the immensity around, about 
I stagger, let the god who doth not speak." 
Long pause was then as if eternal breath 
Had pass'd from every angel to some grave 
Beyond the limits of the void described, 
Their persons in that palace left behind 
For ever with the solitude of death : 
Each fix'd his eye as motionless he thought 400 

Of those hard hopeless words ; thus ponder'd they 
Uneasy 'till the vast promiscuous crowd 
Grew more than anxious something more to hear 
Nor were they disappointed, Aricon 
One of the vulgar, — all in disarray 
Studious was he, his once resplendent wings 
Nigh featherless, and such as then remained 
Untrimm'd and frizzled, — right across his face 
Many a ghastly gash, — one of his lips 
Sever 'd hung on as by the fest'ring skin 410 



220 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Bare to his jaw, — thus, like some bravo bold 
Which a Venetian Doge had hir'd some deed 
Of darkness for the senate to perform, 
In council he presented : his plebeian 
Pride thus he there displayed. 

" Gods all attend ! 
Attend what one shall say uncareful how 
So that he utt'reth what belongs unto 
Our bad occasion ; this ye soon shall hear, 
Ye who the seats of power by force or fraud 420 

Now occupy, the gods fighting against 
God for your gratification, — what with other 
Result than these green wounds 1 now I begin 
Myself to ask — question well ask'd before 
We follow'd Lucifer, comrades ! what gain 1 
Prescient were we of time and space before 
We follow'd, when our essence we disposed 
To either, in the midst a Central power 
Scarcely restraining as we round revolved 
Orderly I suppose. Now where are we ; 430 

What are we now become 1 Our centre thou 
Wouldst fain have broken, Lucifer when off 
Thou broked'st us all — reduced to thine own 
Despotic will. The Primal God before 
Thyself was specious, us he left — thyself 



IN EARTH. 221 

He left at liberty, whate'er thou say'st 

Of edict or command, yet thou the thrones — 

As independent as thou, Tyrant ! art, 

Hast brought to self-contempt. I fear thee not 

The less perhaps as having nothing more 440 

To sacrifice, and thus with millions more 

"Who if they list applauding thee, accuse 

Their thoughtless folly. Where are all the hosts 

Of Zabrash, Nisroch, and Togarmah ! they 

Obey'd thy ord'ring in the battle which 

We rue, and they in consequence are lost ; 

And yet these present thou would'st bend and shape 

Into subservient instruments, for what % 

O well 'tis answer 'd by thy recent act." 

Thousands of thousands as that factious ceased 450 
Leap'd to their feet : so in the stead of one 
The hydra multitudinous heads sprung 
When he Alcmena bore Ionian Jove 
Lopp'd constant. Thus it is when those who reach 
A tiar by the populace kick out 
Against the rungs they mounted, or forget 
The mode in which at bottom they discoursed 
And acted. 

Then stood Moloch : so at night 
A rock as black as jet the traveller takes 1(>0 



222 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

For the dread genius of the mountains close 
Guarding their treasures scimitar in hand ; 
Or Spirit of the Ocean couch'd behind : 
The burnish'd dome above wav'd as he rose 
Ten thousand pearly waves, his golden wings 
In trem'lous motion, all his eyes divine 
Flashing supernal sparks : so wonderful 
Was he that then his audience thought first 
They had observ'd, and o'er the slip'ry floor 
Press'd forward. 470 

" Hold! " cried he, "none here may count 
With Lucifer ; nor any one compare 
Their greatest to his least : nor this the time 
When horrible we feel and this curs'd scene 
Compulsive occupy for words like thine, 

senseless angel ! better we engaged 
How % if 't were possible to make return 
Together, so that let what may befal 
The satisfaction ours nothing remained 

O'erlook'd for our redemption, or to break 480 

Such further fall — if further any be. 
For me, an unsubduable array 

1 think yet possible if selfishness 

Would but forego poor claim ; all with sound heart 
Joining as I will join fresh Avar to wage 



IN EARTH. 223 

How 1 ? where] he judges best who best can judge. 

When disenthralls is time for tripping tongues 

Now premature at least : refrain, refrain ! 

And turn your scorn whate'er it be, or how 

En gender 'd all into the course our case 490 

So urgently requireth, so shall God 

Eeceive its full effect th' advantage we." 

Thus he with features firm, but various thought 
Distracting and to that Atoncryntal. 

" 'Twere mis'rable indeed, grave gods ! if from 
Your nat'ral leader, Lucifer — ye fly, 
For what ] because one time our effort failed 
Before the walls of heaven ! even so I thought 
His chieftainship expir'd, but reas'nable 
Cause shown for his continuance — as he hath, 500 

I vote for its continuance, let the rest — 
Regretting those who're absent but resolved 
T' atone the want we feel, with me agree. 
Insensible to fear e'en when he most 
Had cause, our mighty Emperor design'd 
Even in unsnccess success 'gainst heaven 
Whose signet is on many in such sort 
We little like, on Lucifer 'tis not. 
Thus hast thou, Moloch ! barter 'd not despair, 
But something like it, for such hope as he 510 



224 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

OfFereth : who, O who can hope refuse 1 

And live; e'en at the name the pulse beats quick 

And to the pedestal of God the eye 

Once more uprais'd god-like — god-like we feel. 

What of one strowed field 1 many may be 

And we the losers, hard if by-and-bye 

We persevering win not one, whate'er 

The cost who then shall heed 1 who dies in this 

Dismal of dismals. O how profitless 

Other engagements are save this, the sole 520 

Solace remaining that one day we war 

Again, meantime so arming best as may 

The best assure us when the crisis comes ; 

All narrow schemes forego for this grand scheme 

Worthy th' inventor ; deities ! alone 

Worthy our study which that cloudless brain 

Undaz'd may yet resolve if any may 

Unto our benefit, our energy 

Tighten'd around as price before prefixed. 

How God must tremble when he finds us turned 530 

Even from this upon him, unsubdued 

With longings of the soul for vengeance : gods ! 

'Tis thus in common with our Emp'ror I 

Experience ; so shall all if ye reflect 

How much we lose because we freedom chose 



IN EARTH. 225 

To grinding slav'ry, — did we not obey, 
Bow, minister, and fear ] to this it comes 
We would not God and therefore from the heavens 
Are we exil'd ; it matt'reth not to me 
Whether by God or Chaos, we're exiled 540 

Unwillingly, and to our horror tread 
These distant places. Rise ! unchanging will 
Be yours, unservile ; elevate yourselves 
Above the Tyrant ; though his viewless rod 
He lift to dash us down as often we 
Out of th' abysmal rise, times upon times — 
If necessary, dare his deadliest blows 
Loathed his Being as we loathe our bane, 
Rend'ring it joyless from necessity 

Imposed thus upon him still to watch." 550 

His looks were like his words : then Aphrasac. 
" Nothing shall us compel as thou hast said, 
Emp'ror ! to yield whatever be our doom 
Subduing ; no soft plastic we to take 
The form design'd, whether of liv'ried serfs 
Or chain'd as tameless : yet our outrag'd rights 
Shall have atonement and great God his due. 
But arm for murd'rous deed, and steel yourselves 
In ten-fold brass ; at disadvantage we 
Henceforth contend so vast that but for hate 560 



226 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Rising as vast scarce visible a chance 

Against such enemy. Since we survive 

The nobler are the free howe'er they're wronged 

Whether by Chance or God, we are by both. 

So long as these immortal minds endure 

Unalt'rable by constitution stand 

One by another ; all unworthy care 

Sink in the common cause ! as I have sunk 

Sincerely joining Lucifer to redeem 

His gage as he hath promis'd and I hope." 570 

As if his very looks would blast them then 
And bloodiest scourge were his — if yet withheld 
From their bar'd shoulders, Lucifer upsprung 
With a terrific shout ; "If," thus he cried, 
" Assurance had its due my thunderbolts ! 
But thou and thy supporters, 'ware ! one thing 
All who have liberty — as, they, the rank 
Abuse of liberty forego as if 
It were perdition ; liberty is law 

And order; anarchy is license far 580 

From liberty, or liberty run mad : 
If I a priv'lege have another claim 
Then let him come upon my throne and sit 
Whose val'rous deed points worthy, but 'till then ! 
Flave I not said 1 Lawgiver there must be, 



IN EARTH. 227 

The only law I know is so to rule 
That we all hold together strong as fate, 
For one and that a purpose necessary 
As much for those who serve as him who reigns : 
Nay, more ! dissolve alliance ; on the Throne 590 

Of Heaven I thought, I mean to sit, but that 
Never shall I secure by means of arms 
Which fail'd me erst though they may serve again : 
If to that height I rise — as rise I shall, 
By my inherent strength and that alone, 
Which nought impairs ; O Deities ! I speak 
Seeing such sore defencelessness as is 
Yours whilst scornful I speak ; the enemy 
May come when least expect such finishes 
Making as shall for ever glut his wrath. 600 

That ye are not destroy'd what but this arm 
Prevented 1 none deny me ; and these hands 
Shall sickle harvest yet if ye only 
Forego these weak divisions, to your prime 
Seconding on as once was your delight ; 
As capable as ever strike once more. ,, 
He said as if the battlements of heaven 
E'en then he clearly saw through that ribb'd dome, 
And Empire at his feet subjective lay, 
And thus continued, ;t Thou misdoubting god ! ( > 1 ( ^ 

q 2 



228 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

No quarter of the universe is shut, 

Tis open field, gain'd we no more than this 

This something were our theatre enlarg'd; 

Time is quite valueless except to sow 

And reap our excellence ; the chiefest this 

Our happ'ness to pursue howe'er unknown 

The place or e'en unlikely : what is chance ? 

Chance is a phantom that but cowards scare ; 

One journey happily accomplish'd we 

Augur the like another. Such as will 620 

Remain, remain ! and keep this sterile place 

Whilst this victorious arm the thousand-domed 

Capitol winning there my followers lodge. 

senselessness ! O shame ! glory to spurn, 

1 or heaven yet to prefer contrast like this — 
Forgetfulness and ruin, where the ghost 

Of Freedom stalks dreading its own dull shade : 

Long centuries of years shall pass and more 

Relaxing come and the sojourners here 

Blighted remain rather than cast for heaven 630 

These torrid plains, these icy glens preferred 

Unto the fiow'ry fields, blue seas, and cloud ; 

And why despair them ? think and be like gods ! 

Full competent ye are infinitude 

Itself to compass. Time restless prepares 



IN EARTH. 229 

Our destiny nor abject ; destitute 

We are not that so long as with brave heart 

We hold uncow'd and unconverted on. 

Meanwhile your honors keep ; ye princes ! your 

Confirmed dignities ; who here attend 640 

The Emp'ror join ! " 

Thus he, and from that throne, 
That hall kingly went forth following behind 
At that his mandate all the glitt'ring court 
In solemn order : transient on flash'd they 
As void and desolation on the rear 
Instantly clos'd : no speech, no sound was heard 
As to the hollow vast stretching beyond 
Those numbers pass'd: then dizzily they reeled 
In the nocturnal nothing, Lucifer 650 

Awhile at loss which compass to assert 
When one the marks of his precedent path 
Discov'ring that they took back to the sun 
Gladly addressing. 

Fadeless fame were his 
Who so described these advent'rers as 
Well they deserve : deathless the mem ry is 
O Queen ! unto thy minstrel of that One 
Flush'd at their front who like a sweeping storm 
Pass'd terrible; tremendous strokes his plumes 660 



230 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Cut far and wide the space, great flurrying flames 

Hustling each other horribly as with 

Incomprehensible precipitancy 

And vehemence he wing'd ; he wing'd in all 

Th' infernal majesty of beauty scarred 

And corrugate, as men may think of Cain's 

Foreheaded who like Lucifer was loved — 

As witness his posterity, — adored. 

For more than a world's praises, Empress! I 

Thirst with intensity that only one 670 

Can slake, and now my quenchless burning heart 

Feels an unearthly appetite for all 

The blaze of fame and all the love of God ; 

These be my steadfast aim, my guiding stars 

By thee O Muse ! unto a oneness brought 

Under the Royal spell : now load my tongue 

With thunder. — Wrathful he from every cause 

Existing, in his mightiness again 

He felt omnipotent ; his iron crown — 

No more one-sided, fix'd ; his throned seat 680 

Unscaleable as God's ; the smoke he made 

Had blotted out creation, or those fires 

He — rutilating made consum'd afar 

Beyond creation, everything beside 

Th' abstracted infinite in which composed 



IN EARTH. 231 

The Majesty of majesty lives calm ; 

Eternities he added then unto 

Eternity, the anatomical 

Of Space spurn'd from him, her nihility 

Attributing to himself and drawing long 690 

Conclusions thence to God over whose neck 

Bruis'd, broken he would drive, the Urim and 

The Thummim pulveris'd ; his lieges seemed 

To glide like gilded birds : so the fire-flies 

Sparkle by night ; the phosphorescent waves 

When animalcules by the millions rise 

Tracking some whale that through the Baltic roams : 

Thus they in close succession, swift as wind 

Chasing the light, or thought w T hich both outspeeds, 

Interminable multitudes, broad path — 700 

Broader than yonder sun's — broad though it be 

In the ecliptic, theirs, behind them marked 

Arrowy and farther than the eye could reach 

The Blank far distanc'd as behind it quenched. 

Thus through the ebon vault those rebels winged, 
Like stars innum'rous that at Cape of Hope 
In autumn fall unutterable to see ; 
The blacken'd brightend Vast reflected as 
They sped deep'ning behind cloud upon cloud 
Stupendous — more than Tempest ever owned 1 10 



232 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Shrouding some continent : right through the yawn 

Profoundly limitless, and darkness more 

Intol'rable than night their Archal tracked 

Looking — as looks some khan upon the Schah 

Who fain would him inhume alive or else 

Impale but dare not ; so Phalaris looked ; 

So Nero when inhuman thought he had 

Of Rome a-blaze : at length the Round they glimpse 

In the wide range, through th' encompassing gloom 

Blotting it worse, with one a brighter spot 720 

Such as Awatska to the dwellers in 

The moon benighted looks ; or to the spirits 

Far off the flaming Mongibell ; and hark ! 

The roar, Night startled on her short-held throne 

Frequent : now lo ! she mutters in return 

Gutturals which her co-distractor hears 

Construing, that prerogative was his 

Alone. Then jarring sounds frightful increased 

And mighty clangour ; loud and yet more loud 

Discordants growing, shout on shout uplift 730 

As to that globe with frantic welcome they 

Eventual come : so a great ship-of-war 

The merchantmen — with opium from Patna 

Freighted, the voyage bad, safe anch'rage casts 

hi the Ta-ho. like some ^tcrn tribune, as 



IN EARTH. 233 

Torquatus was ; or like Caligula ; 

Scylla when lie return'd dictator home, 

So Lucifer the while the greet he drank 

Into his thirsting soul thrilling with joy — 

Such as it was. Evil is parasite 740 

No trunk it hath but like the climber grows 

Unto some other and the stronger that 



So much the welcomer as then thought he 
Summing the product : O surpassing prince ! 
Who seekest in another like thyself 
What both what all, alas ! for aye have lost. 

The alteration there since Lucifer 
Departed then he saw ; around the pile 
Originally executed aisles 

Innumerable ran — flat roof'd nor yet 750 

With columns graced, nor ornament but built 
And plated strong as if the crush of worlds 
They should withstand ; Phylee — that labor'd rock 
Of granite with its colonnaded fane, 
Embrasur'd ranges, vestibules and courts 
That seem eternal, unto these a toy : 
Beyond the peristyles defences thrown 
In radiates up concircled join d well-nigh 
O'er half the globe and — in enormous mass 
Provided with great store of grated stones 7(H) 



234 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And others for defence ; or if they meant 

Another dreadful war for surest gain : 

He saw approving, stalking on to Night 

Swelling and shrinking as with sensual mind 

Her paramour she waited but not long 

Yielding his charge : so Pestilence to Death 

Participate together : round them then 

Sate the tetrarchals, lords, rulers and chiefs, 

And those whom Honour mark'd or Fame declared 

Worthy, the foremost Moloch — heretofore 770 

Little dispos'd for conf 'rence when it cost 

He thought some pers'nal sacrifice ; apart 

Ekriel stood stern : others there also were — 

Whose names in hell they dropp'd whene'er they named, 

Full many engirdling. So staid statesmen sit 

The president on high, — th' Amphictyons ; 

On the Tarpseian or the Capitoline 

The Conscript Fathers ; or in later day 

The Council of Five Hundred, mad as these 

We now describe, as ruthless, studying how 780 

God's earth to ruin as these studying hope 

God in the heaven of heaven : no sense of crime 

Was to them then ; no treason treason seemed 

Tf but successful thought ; no channel low 

By which to gain their object, hopeless but 



IN EARTH. 235 

For measures of deceit by covert ways 
Brought upon God to bear, his Crown secure 
From open violence or open war. 



THE WARS OF JEHOVAH. 



BOOK VI. 



THE ARGUMENT. 

An invocation of God. Jehovah — calling to Time, revealeth and with 
all the holy angels drives forth of heaven lighting up the external universe. 
The anthem of angels. Uriel and Sacrael are commissioned against 
Lucifer in the sun. The engagement. Driven to the heart of his 
fortress Lucifer consults his two sole remaining princes, retires to the 
centre, rends the sun asunder and dies. 

Time : the third day, in the morning. 



BOOK VI. 



O God ! in Thy Eternal Mansion throned 

Serene on high above the din as well 

The reach of war — though Lucifer not alone 

But all th' archangels with the hosts of heaven 

United fought, rais'd though my thoughts they are 

To utmost yet (of earth earthy) my verse 

Descriptions lacking as were mete for these 

Great hist'ries, O ! unworthy though the muse 

Thy Holy Name to take the while this harp 

With frail and fev'rish hand I trembling strike 1 

Yet from Thy height — beyond all height, look down 

Upon Thy servant, and the Golden Key 

Which tund the spheres to harmony again 



240 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Let sound that tributary song nor less 
Displeasing unto Thee once more we tune. 

Now had The Righteous Ruler on his Throne 
Imperial seen whence the adorning suns 
Of Paradise were fall'n with such dire wreck 
As Chaos in his flighty passage through 
The Northern made and with the spoils insphered 20 
Together ruin'd o'er the battlements 
Of heaven with pelting ponderosity 
Drive into space, and since that combat shook 
The mass asunder ; — through the blank they whirled 
Each one his way the Sun and Sirius, 
And others, the rebellious cast down 
Upon them : thus the mainful main was isled 
From the disruption'd heaven ; but the Lord 
Present commands his saints : — with the third day 
Of Morning that came round with rosy smiles 30 

Refraining the high mountains, saffron light 
Scatt'ring o'er all the misty dews from out 
Her burnish'd urns and vases at their feet, 
"Attend!" said God whilst all the angels — from 
Entrancement fresh, adoring heard the Voice 
Divine, " attend all angels !" then the Lord 
Call'd to revolving Time ; the heavenly spheres 



IN EARTH. 241 

Chiming for answer, in a sacred cloud 
Above the lust'rous sether, in the day 
Of day where all is sky and moveless stream 40 

Silent, serene, where no archangel thought 
To climb, above all stars two ocean-doors 
Flew open ; there, behold ! in boundless bright 
God's Majesty was seen, heaven in amaze — 
All heaven, the angels, all the air-born Sprites 
Veil'd lighter than Andromeda upon 
Her bridal day or Hebe at the feast 
Dodonian the space the son of Tros 
Pours to the gods, all these together trooped, 
With all that own'd the seas like Lsera, or 50 

Nemertes, Nesse, Clymene, Proto, 
Or Doris, over-populate the air, 
Out of their eyes of love shedding their thoughts 
In shape of strangest, purple, crimson, wild, 
Unfading buds and flowers ; all the Shades 
Heaven-bred when the great meteoric round 
Of light which makes the day unto his place 
In order tends and seems to touch some low 
Horizon, and his — scarce less bright, reflex 
Pales the broad gloamings which relieve the plains, 60 
Crescet-crown'd Fatuis's, (drawn their breath 
From nightly colocassias,) which bound 

R 



242 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Like playful fawns about now here now there 

Starring the sleepy scene, or — moving to 

Some mystic measure in gauze-like cymars, 

Swim, swish in multitude devoutly round, 

All wondering look'd on as God went forth 

Like sound of many waters, or like hosts 

Rushing to battle, principalities, 

Powers, thrones, dominions, virtues, angels, all 70 

Following the cherubim of glory awed 

Proceeding at their head : " Lift up !" cried they, 

" Your heads, ye gates! ye everlasting doors! 

Lift up, the King of Glory comes, He comes." 

" Who is the King of Glory ! Glory? who]" 

The semi-chorus answer'd, and they cried, 

" This is the King of Glory:" then upon 

Their golden hinge spontaneously back 

The sun-bright portals swung ; eternal Day 

Rush'd instant out from heaven rolling away 80 

Before Jehovah yawning yellow'd space 

In volume none can reckon though they count 

By the celestial squares : bear up, O Muse ! 

The all-sustaining air our shoeless feet 

Shall silent keep, our waving wav'ring wings 

Noiseless : the car of God ! the whirling wheels 

The shining spokes, the nave, the braces, rings, 



IN EARTH. 243 

Beams, body, all seem'd one as — sounding, God 
Invested outward drove : crowned was God 
With overshadowing crowns ; great Empress ! thine 90 
Victoria ! richest that the earth e'er owned 
The faintest symbol ; for thy diamonds suns, 
Thy pearls whole stars, thy gold the passing gold 
Of heaven — refln'd from all that makes it dross, 
Imperishably bright around His brow 
Encircled : thus — an hyaline beyond 
Unspeakably afar, one orb upon 
Another operating as with life 
Instinct, and all the horrible hot cold 
Suspended, the confusion horrible 100 

Stopp'd, — then Almighty God pronouncing, " Light, 1 ' 
Chaos unto his bounds remotest heard 
And felt the penetration — through his frame 
Sinking to his foundations ; desolate 
In desolation he to Ruin, Night, 
And his Progenitor in broken tones 
Entreated as the purest airs of heaven 
Rush'd past — the countless suns to order turned ; 
Then out he tore his hollow heart wherein 
Sate sceptred Undelight, with features grim 110 

Grimmed arose, reel'd dizzily, and with 
All his abysmal subjects — Wraiths conceived 

r 2 



244 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

In darkness, mottled Spectres — some like bones 

Sapless and marrowless, with rampt Resolves 

And Unresolves as rampant, Rout and Rage, 

Resentment, Ruin, Rumor, Gloominess, 

And Wrath and Winter, Wind and Clamour, Chance 

And Conflict, Care, Confusion, Fury, Fright, 

Lightning, Discord, Destruction, Darkness, Doom, [down 

Dread, Dross, Drought, Dusk and Thunder sunk sunk 120 

The light gone through them : then methought I saw 

In his ten-fold times aggravated pangs 

Chaos's final spasm — shaking his form 

In the extremity, convulsive clenched 

In bitterness of death his chilling hands. 

Thus Nothing — heretofore a vacant gulf, 

Was woven o'er, the crystal empyrean 

Ringing again as once the heavens they rung 

At the creation of that concourse vast 

Of holy angels who rejoicing sung, 130 

" Hosannah ! now rejoice ; Creating Word ! 

Rejoice, rejoice, O angels, sound aloud 

Elohim ! O Elohim ! unto Thee 

Hosannah O Elohim ! The calmed vast 

The hall' wing of God's eyes — rejoice ! receives ; 

Rejoice ! the heaven is belted : thou Abysm 

Join, join in tenor our full-hearted hymns, 



IN EARTH. 245 

The joy of unction on thy head : O Light ! 

The best ! with veiled radiance, eclipsed 

Before God's sanctuary-splendour, Light! 140 

Light ! Light ! to the Eclipser with a song 

In chorus ; seraph of the heaven before 

All seraphs, join unspeakable, our chords 

Vibrating unto thine, The Majesty 

Through all the crystal circlings shall approve. 

Thou the so long encircled Mystery ! 

Eternal Calm ! O Infinite ! O Sole ! 

Love ! O Thou Showing Forth ! the numbers raise, 

The holy numbers ! lo, Elohim ! O 

Ye cherubim of glory give Him praise, 150 

Raise, raise your voices seraphim, raise high, 

Raise high ! respher'd His radiant lamps go forth 

Revealing glory : magnify His Name 

Ye angels : now hosannah, choral now ! 

Serenely calm with gladness fill'd behold 

The renovated suns broke forth from out 

The blessed Vision of the heavenly place, 

Fountains of fire and banners of the Lord : 

O Glory ! Glory ! canopied above 

The spangling stars: ye glories of the heavens 160 

Join ye the swelling strain: He gave them light 

Repeat ! them light, repeat ye countless, light ! 



246 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And ceaseless praise. The revelating suns 
The luminars of language are restored ; 
Sing to His fame, ye powers thou Mazzaroth, 
Arcturus and his azure sons the seven 
Refulgents orb'd Orion ! at the head." 

Thus were the ruins of the outer heaven 
Illuminated by his ordnance, space 
Immense beyond the Walls of Empire filled 170 

With circling wheels of bright careering orbs ; 
And thus great joy the holy angels made 
In solemn quire watching the countless spheres 
Spring forth continual in order sure 
Of mazy dance that none had dar'd invent 
Nor thought it possible so intricate 
Yet perfect all the movements as they swung 
Each from his partner or mysterious turned 
Drawn by a secret impulse, wav'ring less 
The farther they disparted as when close 180 

They trembled to their centres fill'd by some 
Divinest sense of love attracting all : 
Hail goddess ! thou whom oft by night I hail 
Urania ! all the stars thou know'st by name, 
Thou then observed'st them come ; O who shall tell 
Their legion ] who the measure they describe 
Around the heavens \ Cimmerian darkness shrouds 



IN EARTH. 247 

The skirts of that dominion, far beyond 

The farthest verge that Javan's issue feigned 

Where curs'd Iapetus and Saturn pine; 190 

O thou befriend ! the numbers me affright 

And overpowering spells as on they whirl 

In swiftest trains with such presentments wild 

And marv'llous I am giddy ; wanton dance 

As that to me appears wondrous amiss, 

Most riotous though — better learn'd by thee 

Than the Castilian king, we know 'tis well 

Measur'd to music that the gods enchant : 

Guide back, O Muse this philosophic flight 

For Newton e'en too high. 200 

Then round the wheels 
Living of those swift cherubim turned 
Facing the heavenly multitudes which bowed 
Lowly the head whilst in their tingling ears 
Jehovah's message unto Uriel came 
And unto Sacrael; thus Jehovah, "Where 
Yonder remotest sun yet unreprieved 
Rolls red, O Sacrael ! and that sun beyond 
Uriel ! to ye hath God assigned each 
For your good government ; beyond the range 210 

Of the Omnific word the depth of deep 
Remain for all who enter — Hell, saith God 



248 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Myself alone exempt, infinity 
Mine heaven." 

Th' Almighty said and homeward rode — 
All Raphael's sacred tongues around, his car 
Dark with intolerable bright that all 
Blinded to black so that a chlorite cloud 
Seem'd passing all the while it travers'd space. 
Then the archangels their retainers called 220 

Through all the vocal air ; instant heard they 
Enchanted and — with warlike passion, moved 
Round where advanc'd they stood waving the wing 
To testify their readiness for that flight 
Distant earth-mark'd. The flow'ry perfum'd stars 
Elysium nighest reach'd, across their zones 
Glist'ning they sped, and others known to song 
Heroic that no Mesilegenes 
Dare to attune — so high their destinies 
Of demi-gods that in the after time 230 

Had entries of great triumphs through the gates 
That to their worlds pertain'd, unto the Throne 
Of heaven itself; these uninhabited 
They all observ'd admiring but straight on 
Wing'd till they Sirius reach'd ; there Sacrael found 
Great ruins ; none Sesostris owns this day 
By Mceris ; nor in Bactriana, or 



IN EARTH. 249 

Edom compare ; nor of that Phrygian fane 

Eear'd by a god ; — the palatine o'erthrown 

When Sirius in the career was stopp'd 240 

Short : all around them stretch'd the fields of death 

Bearing envenom'd herbs, dark trees like yew 

Swarming with amphisbcenic snakes — the land, 

The monster-teeming seas : to arms, to arms 

Under the low-hung clouds the gloomy gods 

They altogether rush Adramelec 

Urging together : so the Kabyles in 

The Afric mountains, to the Iron Gates 

By Nature in an earthquake-fury forged 

Horrific, huge, irregularly high ; 250 

The Quarters blew ; like all the winds let loose 

At once from Strongyle, east, west, and north, 

And south o'er the Liparian towers in rage 

The four fearful contesting, all the pines, 

The palms prostrated — stripp'd as if a frost 

Had ta'en their blacken'd branches, then and there 

And worse the clouds dispers'd like tempests sped 

Over wide wastes of snow : from all the rents, 

The ravines then the shafts flew out against 

The bold invaders ; these sheer scabrous stones 260 

Big as mount Blanc against the rock-ribb'd range 

Driving the deep foundations shook, and down 



250 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Enormous masses fell ; the regent — braced 

And plated, grip'd with shame — distraction, called 

Upon his followers ; to sally forth 

None daring, he at length alone th' attempt 

Made and was met ; Podisthinos met he 

Emerging as a Cyclop from his den 

With black-blue fires in hand ; dreadful he drove 

Suddenly with a magazine entire 270 

Of welted bolts ; that angel's trusty shield 

Then rattled : so that gun Archimedes 

Ne'er thought of, by our greater engineer 

Invented, the potential steam let loose, 

A string of bullets in a moment drives 

Like lancets out 'gainst the opposing wall ; 

Podisthinos was blinded, but he hurled 

As if 'twas Chaos hurl'd, turn'd whitest white 

The intercepted mass ; Adramelec's 

Shield sounded hollow, for a moment shone 280 

The bossy hydra on the apex as 

Alive provok'd, the aspics rimm'd around 

Expressive writh'd and darting out fell down 

Fus'd like his breastpiece (with device enchased 

Infernal,) and a diamond lining wrought; 

All, all then went to wreck their owner left 

A heap of shapeless cinders — such they find 



IN EARTH. 251 

After a fire in some small entry where 

None was suspect ; they stare, and stir, and stare 

Again and take it for a perish'd cat 290 

Or missing mastiff. — Nor Adramelec 

Alone, that torrent enter'd to the heart 

So sure, it blew all up : so wasps are blown, 

Or hornets — nests and all into the air 

Too long infested, all their stings as well 

Their legs, wings, sing'd, burnt, broken : owning Death 

The rebels terror-fraught their ghosts from out 

Their eyes glar'd in advance, and with a shriek 

Sped — like Siberian wolves their haunting fired, 

Outward to Hell. 300 

With well-practised plumes 
Turn'd north the victors, from that star well heard 
Warring if seen not ; the explosion came 
Too certain to the Arch-divider's ears 
Across the mediate space : soon through the clouds 
A thousand thousand voyagers were seen 
Angelical but stern, and beauteous forms 
Such as ne'er Hylas, nor th' Idsean boy, 
Nor Cinyras's son, Endymion — lov'd 
E'en by Diana, Hermaphroditus, 310 

Nor the Bithynian fav'rite Antinous 
Boasted, with eyes the empress- J uno wished 



252 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

When Paris for the Paphian her postponed : 

Thus present they forestalling his vain boast 

Meeting him those he said would glad avoid ; 

Nor Lucifer unwilling ; use he'd made 

Meanwhile, in various sort arming more sure 

He thought than ever ; wondrous works had they 

Moreover added ; those ramparts which cost 

The Hellenes ten years to gain nor gained 320 

Then but for Sinon, those which Russia holds 

From Turkey for examples are (O Muse ! 

Suff'ring comparison,) as these unto 

The warrior-angels ; here were casements close 

As those at Antwerp found after the siege 

By France was over ; long drawn passages, 

Like those within the pyramids, the ends 

Of which are still unknown, — these secret were 

As Night who them design'd, and labyrinths 

More tortuous than Crete's ; herein she denned 330 

Since the great act of God had lighted up 

All the external universe : " Forth ! forth ! " 

Then Lucifer to her cried, " forth ! God's glare 

Now petrify to gloom, advantages 

Giving unto us that this Arm of heaven 

Encount'ring we may break; abroad, and scare!" 

Over that orb straightway she slowly swept 



IN EARTH. 253 

Quenching so far the beam of the first day 

With a tremendous frown : then Uriel looked 

Doubtful, around his head his glory shone 340 

Streaming, and from the casquenetts of all 

His hopeful hosts ; high over all stood he 

Lynx-eyed; the distant walls, the towers of iron 

He saw and hov'ring o'er them Night — 'twas Night 

Fac'd to the verge of death, or Death it was 

Anger'd frowning like Hell, shaking the wing 

More angrily, when with a living fire 

Fir'd the impetuous Lucifer came on 

Against them ; O that coming ! set upon 

Chimaeras — like those Ixion got upon 350 

Cloud, down they came, and with a scaring cry 

Discharg'd : Parthonopseus Dryas took 

Same manner : Uriel's with one baulking bound 

Each took his foremost ; Pollux ne'er like that 

Grappled, returning scorn for hateful scorn 

Beyond example : fury fury met 

So much more resolute as the cause was good 

Incalculably ; peal on sounding peal 

Rung the archangels crying, " On ! at them 

Gods!" ever foremost to sustain the shock 360 

Of shock-repeating battle ; Lucifer 

Cried also baring both his wither'd arms 



254 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Worn with the warring : giant Brontes' arms 

Were sliver'd, Arges' crush'd but these were worn ; 

So promontories wear, the weather, waves 

Against them : menacing he look'd, whole troops 

Troubled ; like castled elephants behind 

His frightful monsters ; Oceanides 

Thaumas, Electra ne'er such ones begot ; 

Nor she of Callirhoe to Chrysaor 370 

Born fell Echidna : some had octave rows 

Of teeth — like that dread dragon Cadmus slew, 

And bit for rage great pieces out their backs 

And bellies, kindling fire or vomiting 

Each time they vomited an earth quite full 

Of solid smoke ; O ! terrible were they 

Oft turning Heaven's aside — as blasted trees — 

Left standing, reapers in a corn field, or 

Reft rocks advanc'd to sea the chafing waves, 

Or high peak'd hills the swiftly rushing winds, 380 

Or burst-bound rivers armies ; when they fell 

Wounded to death their dying voice was like — 

Was like a dying thunder, and their blood 

Like grumous lava, spinning, spirting forth 

Their mountain-bodies as the Geysers spout, 

Or spirt, and spue in Iceland ; one when in 

His latter agonies stroke out behind 



IN EARTH. 255 

Full six score jambs; a cameleopard so — 

Escap'd but wounded from a lion, fallen 

Sometimes will strike, woe to the wild wood-cats 390 

Behind him ; then was horror some cried out 

Ripp'd up, but more their lower limbs undone 

For ever ; then Patrancosothos fell 

Thrimos, Acostras, Pylon ; these an oath 

Had sworn that if contrary went the war 

Their Emperor should die : he — like a huge 

Sea-worthless vessel that the masts hath lost 

Plunging keel upward in the ocean-brine 

Rent all the ribs, presumptuously ploughed 

The skies, the deeps ; o'er hills of slain he urged 400 

Ascending ; down he drove o'erpow'ring all 

Roiling from side to side : so a Malay 

Drunken he runneth muck — his forfeit life 

Selling, armed with knife, spear, ataghan : 

Immortal frenzy his long javelins 

He launch'd at every breath ; the oaks renowned 

Dodonian, the tall pines the robber used, 

By the Trcezenian hero for himself 

Used at the last were reeds ; e'en he, himself 

Scarce lifted, dashing glad ; whizzing they went 4 1 

Like lightnings wing'd one side and not the other 

Often awry far out beyond the lines 



256 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Or far beyond, and some as much fell short ; 

Oft times his orbed shield — hammered, up 

Flaming he held, behind the ample round 

Shelt'ring, nor seldom to his sword was he 

Put by some enterpriser who across 

His path bravely would rush, guardfull the while : 

Thus the reviling Lucifer that day 

Portentous, savage fought; famous his feats 420 

Headlong, headstrong, hard-handed ; high the ground 

He spurn'd, as if he eke were brazen-hoofed 

As well his maddest momics neighing, loud- 

Larynx'd, alarming, startling; Night above 

Him constantly was seen, — never before 

So resolutely wild she blighted air, 

Earth, sea, she blighted all ; the stars that rolled 

Above turn'd sickly pale, and still she shoved 

And shov'd her warding wings the sky nine times 

Clogging ; and down she look'd so direful on 430 

Each aching angel that full many felt 

Unnerv'd : so she the subtlest of the fiends — 

Headed and breasted like a woman, with 

The body of a dog, a lion's claws, 

"Wing'd like a bird, and with a human voice, 

Her victims meditated from on high 

Ready to dart, — but more unnat'ral Night 



IN EARTH. 257 

As if her every eyeless eye were pricked 

For every one on whom weetless they fell ; 

O ! how she lowered, frown'd, turn'd red and black 440 

Erecting rampant, each especial hair 

Unknotted up on end, the hydra head 

Of every hair jaw-open'd raining down 

Over her forehead, face, continual rain 

Of poison thrice distilled ; equal fierce 

Serpentries zon'd her waist, her wenny wings 

Were fring'd with serpents ; down sometimes she seemed 

To swoop and then, oh then ! a million snakes — 

And more, of prey made sure, but often as 

She lower'd Lucifer was fain to smite 450 

At her himself by thousands bit and stung. 

Now through the battle — brought to utmost bale, 
Speeding a shower of shining shafts Uriel 
Went arch angelic forth ; a bloody blain 
Follow'd his sabred sword, no better hand 
Had he in both ten blasting bolts he caught 
Bellowing, and — bearing up, the sender sent 
Back with the sense of death ; whole legions fall 
Or fly before him ; squadrons squadrons seem 
No longer ; through the serried ranks he drove 460 

Spreading Death dainties, — Death a banquet made 
More than Thyestian ; Heliogabalus 



258 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Never so feasted, no such supper made 

Lucullus ; all the crowded corses he 

Coring elated as that monster cored 

Who had the heads of howling dogs around 

Her middle, serpent-shaped feet, six heads 

Three row'd with teeth ; six at a time eat she, 

Death tens of thousands : Ismarus was felled 

Once for one funeral, no fun'ral there 470 

Was kept for millions ; no Achilles mourned 

His Patroclus, each felt his fate alone 

And had they tears — they had not, (all the founts 

Whence real tears proceed long since dried up,) 

Not one had been bestow'd : now woe to them 

The wicked ! those who in the heavens had been 

Friends — foll'wing as Theseus Pirithous 

To hell, now hell was in the view hated 

Each other with a more determin'd will 

Than e'er they lov'd : this the great difT'rence is 480 

Between the good and bad, the gracious love 

For ever, but a time the froward — Hate 

Close on the heel ; Reader ! guard, guard thee well 

From mixed wine, now in the youth whilst yet 

The days come not when thou shalt say in them 

I have no pleasure ; for the sun, the moon 

The stars shall darken, nor the cloud return 



IN EARTH. 259 

After the rain ; the keepers of the house 

Tremble ; the strong bow down ; the grinding teeth 

Cease, and the eyes grow dim, fear in the way 490 

When thou unto account must go, — beware ! 

Woe in his wake Uriel with martial might 

Pursuing slew : so Hector once the Greeks ; 

Now here, now there : so some refiuxion'd wave 

In a wide bay drives on or back or on 

Unto the level : the archangel fought 

For the inviolable God himself 

Scarce less inviolable : brethren ! hope 

And faithful be unto the end, fight on 

The fight of faith and we like him a crown 500 

Shall surely have. 

" Strike ! strike the iron sixth 
O laureate, to thy lead !" Melpomone ! 
Thy sister Muse commands, thou tragic queen ! 
Gorgeous enrob'd,— Clio ! with laurel crowned 
Attend whilst for our Empress unrestrained 
Numbers I raise or from my fingers flayed 
The pestled plectrum falls. 

Then Lucifer — 
Like the huge Erymanthian boar rush'd down 510 

Upon the hunter ; gnashing all his teeth 
A thunder-bolted lance he drove but back — 

s 2 



260 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Like that Electryon threw, with added force 

Against himself it went, — his corslet pierced — 

His heart then on came Death ; from both his eyes 

Out upon him he blaz'd, his bonds he burst 

Like the Philistian withes, or like the god 

Of Strength Busiris' chains ; then such a flail 

He aim'd ! more terrible than ever he 

Corynetes brandish'd, the which upon 520 

Astonied Death fell down as falls a great 

High overthreat'ning rock upon a rude 

Assailing billow in confusion driven 

Foaming on heap, nigh sever'd back from whence 

Spiry it came a horrid gap between, — 

Back that one roll'd voluminously vast 

Like the sea-serpent that Laocoon seized 

Clenching his latent claws ; or like the mouthed 

Sea-monster Perseus met, on either hand 

Upflung his failing fins like taken towers 530 

Or falling ; in the centre to the ground 

He haled his heads expecting such another 

Dangering trial, starting all his eyes, 

Harrow'd his harden'd heart : so in his cave 

Shut up, distracted Caurus bang'd again 

Eaves raving, all the pect'ral earth intent 

To loose him : then his thick and foetid breath 



IN EARTH. 261 

Went forth like fume from out a lazar house — 

All the attendants with their patients dead, 

When in the morning one unknowing opes 540 

The spotted door ; those who respir'd fell down 

Death-stricken worse than ever ; Wonder took 

Night and out out like Iphiclus shrieked she 

Amazing both the armies, such a shriek 

None heard before nor after gods nor men 

Save Orpheus when Eurydice was lost, 

Like her she flitted and like her she looked 

Mounting ten fiery dragons ; she Medea 

Her children murdered, from Iolchos 

To Athens drove some-like scatt'ring behind 550 

Her salted conjurations ; thus then Night 

Defiling ; e'en her limbs were scatter'd, some 

Rotted away especially the snakes 

That stood for limbs below, as that young hag 

Absyrtus scatter'd : oh ! horrific sight ! 

Then Lucifer like Polydectes looked, 

His angels like his adjuncts when they saw 

Gorgon ; no one thought then of cureless wounds 

Balsams or balms, or those curative drops 

Renown'd in heaven more than Tolu are here, 560 

Or Gilead, or those amber-looking tears 

Lampetie and her loving sisters claim 



262 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Exuding from their trees ; and the Arch-one — 

That more than an archangel, after her 

Seemed as if he fled, and so they looked 

Flying together, for one time they turned 

Full speed full round the two, the three — for Death 

They overtook, and he a something shook 

A something dreadful — undistinguish'd what, 

And Mght her nine score hands determin'd shook 570 

Fill'd with crap'd clouds and flung them to the full 

Of her unbounded bent ; but Lucifer 

He flung, — he stoop'd and from the groaning ground 

More than an island tore, he lifted, poised 

A moment o'er his head and — all his might 

Expending, hurl'd ; well met ! O kindling Muse ! 

What shall assist me to my theme 1 what ope 

Incred'lous ears so wide as shall admit 

The labor'd latitudes 1 then Uriel too 

Also essaying, and like Hercules 580 

When from the Pillars unto Ceuta he 

Tore the whole Isthmus up, rocks, rivers, roots, 

And the Atlantic met the Middle sea, 

So then nor diverse ; all the globe gainsay'd 

That major meeting ; Night set up a howl 

That scar'd the Utmost, e'en the azure Orb 

Of heaven re-echoed back ; whole legions drown, 



IN EA.RTH. 263 

Or die bespatter'd with the marls, the muds 

And mingled fall ; then back the lesser drove 

Tempesting, heap'd, confus'd as destin'd to 590 

O'ertake them all unransom'd ; gauntlet, shield, 

Avail'd not here ; they fled his weapons dropped 

Th' Apostate in his haste, Hippomedon 

Not half so fleet ; in vain, or nearly vain 

Vengeance at hand down, down the ruin comes 

Eazing his hinder joints ; then out the thin 

Pellucid ichor pour'd, and Death again 

Turn'd round as if upon him, Night also 

She turn'd her dragons back before his eyes 

Flitting as if her last ; Death e'en his arms 600 

Adventuring held forth, O Miserable ! 

He left his limbs behind writhing to think 

How much he suffer 'd in the sinewy grip 

Of that Arch-potent whom the daemon Night 

Rapt sudden up and — lashing furious, drove 

Her cank'rous coursers on ; out wide stretch'd they 

Like Draco, or like those strange Volants which 

Swum in the air of — unto us ancient 

Hell ; Trymenor compelling a great bow 

Seven times seven arrows went, and one brought down, 

Like he Periclymenos levelFd by | 61 

Alcides; see! he flutters, Leaps now up 



264 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Now falleth down the spectres busy with 

The harnessing and bonds, bursting, or broke, 

Torn, cut asunder ; now precipitous 

He comes, he comes wide gaping, hated thing, 

Filmy, sombre, grisly, mysterious 

Deformity, Deadness, Astonishment: 

Then the rebellious found themselves between 

Th' untiring enemy, upon themselves 620 

Continually revers'd : the battle went 

Against them everywhere ; where'er they turned 

They found, and many rather than be slain 

Pointed their own dread arms : so hemm'd around 

By fire detested scorpions on themselves 

Are said to turn the sting ; so countermined 

Traitors themselves blow up : Moloch — gone mad 

In handling his sharp sword across his throat 

Unguarded drew it ; out the crimson tide 

Gush'd and his fierce and reckless spirit most 630 

Bloody to see : Apollyon and Baal 

Fought frantic, pik'd all o'er beyond the reach 

Of Chiron's styptic or of Paean's rue, 

Infix'd also with many a barbed beard 

Broke in their fury off; they thrust, tore, teethed, 

Nor friend, nor foe could brook ; where thickest, they 

Loading and loaded, blinding, blasting all 



IN EARTH. 265 

That they encounter'd if not blasted borne 

Down or driven back the first : Haraphon fought 

As desp'rate as possess'd ; brutally bluff 640 

Hack'd he or hew'd maintaining ample space 

On all sides round ; his vizor fallen his face 

Was gory red all o'er, nor target his 

Right through the pierc'd cuirass his body through 

Below the diaphragm a fatal fork 

Had speeded straight — over the cuishes down 

About his legs his inwards dangling hung ; 

Still on press'd he as animate as e'er 

Sputt'ring the teeth as often as fresh blow 

Frequent was had 'till quite exhausted he 650 

Once and for ever fell : upon Ekriel 

One sent a thund'ring hill ; so Tityon 

Was serv'd in quick reprise, his impious tongue 

Jaws, cheeks together altogether crushed 

One undistinguish'd mass : the common rout 

Of the rebellious equally were served, 

None deign'd to them a second blow, but sent 

Their souls apart at once : the carked crew 

Bi-forrnd nor gods nor ought beside whereto 

The Muse may liken, — some their swimmers stretched 

Amazing wide, and some their necks so high [6()0 

Scarce were their heads discover'd from amidst 



266 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The gath'ring clouds ; feathery, scal'd, or haired 

With crisp'd or long cerastes — thick or thin 

O'ergrown, or small or saucer 'd eyed, their breath 

Flame such as Ceres kindled, or like that 

Which seizeth on the leper-souls of men 

Their condemnation seal'd; their calls, or cries 

Like his Argestes' when he rocks the earth 

With terror to and fro; all these they drove 670 

Drench'd in their draff, with all that kept the seat, 

All that surviv'd on foot, pell-mell they drove 

Breathless, and blind, and beaten, branded whence 

So ill-advis'd they came : so brave Calais 

And Zethes drove the vulture-bodied birds 

But human fac'd unto the Strophades 

Beyond Peloponesus, that despite 

Their formidable claws, and iron wings, 

And threat'ning voices : back like curling waves 

Unwilling they were back'd those millions to 680 

Their outside pretenture ; there they renewed 

A moment when sore batter 'd, bruis'd, and broken 

Over the next they go — one after th' other 

With ill success defending 'till the last 

Reached the angels found across their road 

Some not expect ; — like those fire-breathing bulls 

That guarded close for Mars the Golden Fleece, 



IN EARTH. 267 

Death, Night and Lucifer ; his naming hair 

Shook Death elancing to the utmost bounds, 

Night after but with oft redoubled strokes 690 

Of her reft ramy wings, whetting what was 

Her visionary tusks, wrinkling her brow 

As if the limbs of all God's angels she 

Would shred ; then the archangels Death and that • 

Confronting put to flight Night foremost, back 

Along the bristling passages hast'ning 

Nor look'd for fear behind, Death he dissolved 

Like a sun-shrivell'd cloud, whilst Lucifer — 

Pierc'd though he was unto the bone by the 

Most piercing weapons, haughtily the crest 700 

As ever carrying cover'd the retreat 

Of his thrice decimated armies 'till — 

The living last behind him, to they put 

(The universe resounding as hoarsely 

They grated back) the declarative doors. 

Thus in his turn the baffled Anarch there 
Was close besieg'd, and in such serious terms 
That no conditions offer'd; none he wished 
Unquell'd his pride : who shall a mortal's pride 
Much less an angel's quell] Full oft in pack 710 

Issuing from some strange vent his wolves would fall 
As if the prey were theirs ; great grisly pyths 



268 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And cancriners often with riders wild 

Would venture a surprisal when they thought 

The watchers intermitted ; warily 

They apparition made in ghastly sort 

Whilst some would sortie opposite with sign 

Of broody battle and so much distract 

The angels that to greater distance fallen 

Good room for field remain'd : once Lucifer 720 

Himself in earnest set, Uriel he saw 

His back upon his towers, the multitude 

Exhorting, flitting where that regal stood 

Who — felt forecasting shadow, u O!" cried he, 

" From thy dark den art thou at length come forth 

With hopeless hope me unaware to take 1 

Trapping or slaying ; lend unwilling ears 

That I may sate them thou apostate prince ! 

Untrue to God, God to thy bitter own 

Reflections leaves thee, I to them will add 730 

Inducement if unthank'd whilst I abhor 

Thy cureless folly : O ! is it for this 

Thou didst revolt and all thy hosts seduce 

To follow thy bad ways % for them hast thou 

Industriously forg'd such chains I doubt 

If they prefer them unto those of which 

Thou mad'st the false report their souls to snare : 



IN EARTH. 269 

Where is thy former crown of fulgent stars 1 

So ill-replac'd by painted plumals, O 

Lucifer ! thou art chang'd from what thou wast 740 

To recompense of evil ; fallen Arch ! 

Would all receiv'd thee as I now receive." 

With that emblaz'd over his head erect 
Sublime his sacred sword — bestud with stones 
The hilt which burn'd like brass ; but Lucifer 
Unfearing that vaunting himself returned. 

" Proud serf! for this laying aside thy harp 
And odes to Majesty in studied style 
Of servile adoration, Lucifer 

Dost seek % Self-flatterer ! back'd as thou art 750 

With all thy vassal crowds well mayest thou 
Injuriously insult him whom the three 
Greater archangels fear'd that yesterday 
We sieg'd thy Lord else long I had not sought 
Them vainly as the foremost of my foe 
Obnoxious to these arms ; well this thou know'st 
Boasting thy worth, and simulating what 
Thou nor The Tyrant know'th when Lucifer 
Trembling ye name. For other than for this 
We rose uncumber'd of those coz'ning shows 760 

Prided by slaves, as thou this time doth pride 
liveried, in th' enjoyment as it seems 



270 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of that which but disgraces thee much more 

Than our reversals : whilst to me thou preach'st 

List if not learn thou braggart ! freedom lies 

Not always in one's happiness, but he 

Who free remains disdaineth such as thou 

Serving such court and mock solemnities 

Thou as inferior servest, plied thy best 

Prankt in that holiday disguise to please : 770 

O this were hateful to the glorious gods 

Who free confess me Head with better thank 

Though maybe small than His whom all the rest 

Besotted fear and praise. The god who dares 

For liberty is noble though he fall." 

He ceas'd and dazzling fenc'd a stroke, returning 
Ever the while fresh blows he also put 
Continually aside, smiting oft-time 
His vig'rous adversary but intent 

Unto his towers to make retreat, this as 780 

That prince discover'd he directly hewed 
Down straight so, Lucifer had much ado — 
His hands nigh cleaving to his blades and used 
With all dexterity his life to save, — 
His seconds also, for though Uriel fought 
Alone — wav'd off all comers, sometimes these 
Headlong he reach'd two-handed either side 



IN EARTH. 271 

On the supporters, fring'd the course he took 

Frequent with dead : then Agafriminos, 

Accandrar, and the daring Agiphine 790 

Fell pierc'd with the same shaft, — Pathriknites — 

Behind them near run through, with mortal pain 

Withdrawing disembowel'd, the broad sweep 

Of a crabb'd club (from Toron wrest) sufficed 

To end him with twelve others ; in excess 

Of might one time the dread archangel smote 

Not only his antagonist to knee 

But num'rous in the rear — with the bare blast, 

Were blown prostrate to ground and some fell dead ; 

Thus wilding he, channelled his long way 800 

Tearing some times (when arms or missives failed 

As oft they did so many at a time 

Pointing he charg'd,) great fragments of their works — 

Like Savendroeg that rock of death, clean up 

And swinging them right round let fly ; Scholaf, 

Nomron and others by these means were slain 

Hopra and Saropheli : so Pholeus, 

Pout — ravage following; so th' JEtolian chief: 

Then also sank Hyprostar, Hammonak 

And Thrydaomer, mighty names were these 810 

'Mongst the admiring angels, on them all 

At once he rush'd, fixing in each seven darts 



272 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Pinning the ground ; and high he waves seven swords 

Instantly after o'er the horrent heads 

Of Harrinthrytor and a chosen band 

Together round him cow'ring, every blade 

"Was fatal and to more than one ; he smote 

Many whene'er he smote dealing his deaths 

Alternate now this side and then the other 

So quickly none within arm's-length could hope 820 

Even if he dar'd to come, nor one remained 

Not one behind : the Arch dishonor 'd galled 

Fought as he best could fight — not as he once 

Outside the heavens contended like a god 

In his supremest strength, that day was past 

At present but he ne'ertheless so fought 

As all astonished; he moves, the globe 

Trembles ; he plants a foot, the centre quakes ; 

He bounds, a whirlwind rises that this earth 

More than suffic'd to wheel against her course 830 

Diurnal, and so wheeling spin it out 

Impalpably to space unravell'd mist ; 

Yet all his rage came short, his blows were dealt 

Like blows but not like Uriel's ; not a wound 

Had he inflicted, whilst with loss of blood 

Fainting he reels ; his darts were darted so 

J fad Alp been then Alp through and through were seen ; 



IN EARTH. 273 

And still his steels smote down when on he pressed 

His forceful frame opposing that none there 

But his antagonist had them survived ; 840 

His thunders all were spent — or such they once 

Call'd thunder ; all his bolts ; he stalks, he flies, 

He stands by turn, pride, shame, and frenzy his 

Whilst Uriel pours upon — around him wrath 

Incessant, wheeling, whirling, now above 

In air, and now upon the slippery ground, 

The boastful shield upflung whene'er he met 

Behold ! around his arm half-hammer'd back, 

His cloven diadem, his razed crest, 

And all his plate and mail spatter'd and spoilt ; 850 

Arrows and lances, spears and deadly darts 

Are his unnumber'd, bristling there he seems 

The object of ten thousand most expert 

Unfeeling marksmen, often as he pluckt 

As often plied and pierc'd with all but force 

Fatal ; an axe he lifts, out of his hands 

It goeth like lightning back and kills — mis-chanced, 

Grothor, same time a stunning blow was cut 

Disabling one whole side, — down fell what stood 

For ten great wings, down his robustious arm 860 

Useless, and through the air a summons sped 

At once into his brain, into his mouth 

T 



274 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Through the crush'd palatals the pulp divine 

Discharging then he spitted — all his eyes 

Bloodied as if by death, then Pallor — like 

A white-eyed vampire, o'er his members crept, 

Yet still he breath'd, liv'd, fought, retir'd — or fled 

Reviving as he fled, his streaming balls 

Staunch'd by a more than iEsculapian art 

Known only to the gods, the cranial sphere 870 

Reintegrating — all the injur'd bones 

Soder'd again together by the mere 

Motion of will ; he gasps — behind him lies 

The lower terrace ; to the portal with 

A wordless effort he the passage made, 

The next, the next ; then Uriel first time 

Sacrael joins, their angels to that spot 

They also rush for ingress, up they mount 

With the opposers, earning step by step — 

Sanguineous or paven with the slain, 880 

Unto the iron lintels, — here with force 

Supernal Lucifer with Uriel and 

Sacrael waged long while singeing the airs 

Each time they stroke and torrents driving on 

Like storms outside and in which through the halls 

Resounding rush'd and to her cover came 

Where Night crump'd close ; many a hard essay 



IN EARTH. 275 

Made then those three, the one that door to keep 
The others take, as if upon the hinge 
Hung destiny : O Diva ! never gate 890 

Of Babylon, nor Hecatompylos, 
Nor Priam's, nor Phoenician, none that great 
Titus attempted when his Eagles pitched 
Round Hierosalem, of later age 
Constantinopolis by Mahomet 
The Second hard assail'd — nor gate of Rome 
By Alaric — Bourbon, nor those waylaid 
In feudal times by the crusading kings — 
The lion-hearted King thine ancestor 
Great Empress ! foremost, none was so contest'd : 900 
He who his father Ccelus cruel mauled 
To gain his throne, when he in turn was ta'en 
By the Olympian, Jupiter himself 
When Demogorgon — by the son of Maia 
Heralded, came (as he — of mantled Myth, 
Who hung on Caucasus foretold,) like that 
Made no resistance : fill my pen with fire 
O Muse ! and Terror, wait ! aspiring after 
That signal hour when for his outlaw'd life 
The Gerent fought with all the might of limbs 910 

E'er-living and indescribable rage 
So that his presence seem'd like flame dissolved 

t 2 



276 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Continual and back penetrating fresh 

Into an image flash'd ; thus those princedoms 

Bodied with threat unbodied appeared 

The time they threat fulfill'd, thaw'd by the strokes 

They aim'd at one another, sometimes both 

Together smiting then the three would seem 

Destructive lightnings at right angles met 

Disparting back unto his cloud charging 920 

Again for more ; then grinded they the winds 

Whirling or thund'ring down, or hurling up 

Their gleamy faulchions, trampling each the ground 

Spurning yet keeping : thus wreak'd they their all 

Constant, yet more for ever in reserve 

More ruinous from which was no appeal 

Unto a higher ; one or th' other must 

Sink conquer'd, which'? the holy angels thought 

Of such fierce combatants well met before 

But direr now : detesting and detest 930 

Mutual they judg'd for doom, bottomless Void 

Assigning one and an eternal wreck 

Of all his being ; the other or if he 

Imperishing were found down sink they should 

Same time inextricable to that sea 

Shoreless through all the heaven-assailing waves 

Unto the bottom : " Thus ! " said Uriel, and — 



IN EARTH. 277 

Melpomone he smote ! Vast to the core 

Shivering sunk when down mis-spent it came ; 

And " Thus ! " cried his offensor sending down 940 

Tempestuous cloud that shut them all from sight 

A moment, then the vagued Vast again : 

Thus awful they dimming the stars, shaking 

The Universe ; the terrors of their looks 

Unbearable to all if up they dared 

Through the red ragged storms at them to glance ; 

At last the strife remitted, but for time 

Less than one instant when to it again 

Frowning they put : now, lo ! now Uriel is — 

His foot upon the threshold and with huge 950 

And pond'rous blow meets Lucifer's advanced 

Weapon so well that right, right through he cuts ; 

He flies defenceless all the outer walls 

Fill'd with belligerents, the outlets of 

The citadel beleagued, some half-way won : 

With all the outworks all their engines lost 

Immediate they were turn'd — as once before 

With such effect ; remorselessly they smote 

Column and capital, a hideous roar 

Perpetual : with as incessant mind 960 

The renegades in turn deploy'd such means 

As there to them were left often in blaze 



278 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Outbursting where the Holy least expect 

But still inutile ; oft to dispossess 

Some corner they essay'd and wondrous feats 

Were done by either : but, O ! who shall rive 

That solid, keyless place ? God and none other 

Said they, so strong those adamantine walls 

What reek they these 1 yet on continually 

Fire-hail was pour'd upon the plated doors 970 

Eeady to take if when each trial o'er 

Aught open stood. Clio ! relate their names 

The most distinguish'd who that famous time 

Stood forth amongst the angels when they rushed 

Forward with Sacrael ; Rhytoronon first 

Confronting Baal — presently o'erthrown 

If not quite finish'd, him they rescued ; to 

Pathrine Apollyon owed much although 

A shield was interpos'd ; nigh dead was Oth 

From the redoubted Eunymo ; and ten 980 

Chief-rulers from Prospal and Mazinor 

Fled, but were met by Eusthynes, Mazob 

And Theophestus ; the renown'd Crothor, 

Phalton, Vathec, Dremos Abaddon slew 

And Ziphroth ; other noted were that time 

In valors deed ; Atrine and Barachos 

And Athbrascantes thrice their numbers drove 



IN EARTH. 279 

With ghastly gashes out ; whilst Nepamon 

Smote seven successively purpled the ground 

With gushing streams ; these the distinction won 990 

To head the batteries incessantly 

Play'd, when from an embrasure Mulciber 

Unguarded looking out himself a prey 

Fell to them. Long the tale of risks they ran 

Firing concert together ; oft the roofs 

Scaling they met the warders at their posts 

Unsleeping, and resum'd. 

Now Lucifer 
A secret council held ; within a shrine — 
Unknown but to himself, with cunninge wrought 1000 
More latent than the Golden Chambers worked 
For the superior gods, he on a throne 
Sate royal still and thus the business sped. 

" Despair not potents yet — hard though the day 
Against us goeth, but retire with me 
To your profoundest thoughts there shall ye find 
Such big rebellion to high heaven as leave 
Us no alternative, ye gods ! egress 
If unto one yet possible to none 

Beside myself: and time an end shall make 1010 

Even of our towers assail' d as these assail. 
The watch have well-nigh given, and but for ye, 



280 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

princes ! carrying high the head the hosts 
If not surrender'd lassid grown, or worse 
Despairing of the issue down their arms 
Long since had thrown. Even if we forsook 
All hope, if I even my crown despaired 

Yet would I wear it 'till the moment came 

For the dire ravishment. Immortal gods 

Unmov'd I look with the consummate scorn 1020 

1 ever look'd ; nothing from me detracts 
My high prerogative, highest to hate 
Subservience to another. Now our Guest 
Answer, what in this new extremity 
Remains undone." 

Then Baal — all besmeared 
With crimson, said, Apollyon sitting mute, 
" Service were his who at this solemn time 
Sagely could answer that, amidst all our 
Distractions; nor this one the least that thou 1030 

Whose part it were to show, request of us 
What way — if one remaineth yet to take. 
From ill to worse we journey, this the worst 
Dreadful to think that when we promis'd much 
Least is perform'd the puissant powers within 
This confine shut for whom ascent to heaven 
Was thought still possible — th' arrangement made. 



IN EARTH. 281 

I list as well dost thou the routous noise 

Of our great arlablasts and reckon time 

Anxious how long these last defences stand 1040 

Such outburst, for — a difference between 

These and the walls of God, down they must go 

And with them fate necessitous to all, 

For what avails our skill such arms to forge 

Or use like these % behold ! we strike, we hew 

God's armies and throw down but harm none can 

Whilst they are turn'd upon us with such wounds 

As few may bear and live. If time there were 

For speculation now good cause have we 

The system of our policy to review 1050 

From the beginning ; something wrong there is 

Low at the root, alas ! the search were late 

Even if possible : thus we are smit 

Though the first smiters. Who such peerless height 

Of daring in our enemy could expect X 

As we have witness'd ; or in God such power ? 

For he inspireth if He doth not deign 

To lead : O Lucifer ! misreckon'd there, 

God truly is above us proof to fate 

If yet not Fate which now I much suspect, 1060 

The more irreconcilable as thou 

Arch-gerent ever art ; nor I deplore 



282 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

But still our eyes to thee continual turn 

If not for succour at the least advice 

Which shall amend us : to this pass we 're brought 

Now is the time thy excellence to prove." 

"Well said;" Apollyon cried drawing his breath 
With difficulty in such piteous plight 
Had Parathseel left him ; " now great act 
Thou Lucifer ! is necessary, more 1070 

Than e'er, let those who saw Death say 'tis worse 
Than angry God to see or to endure ; 
For this wert thou design'd foremost of gods 
And separated as it were : put forth 
For our captivity more than thou hast — 
E'en to the pitch of our afflicting need 
Deliv'ring : if thou God imagin'd thine 
Already duell'd when from him thou gained'st 
Thy millions surely Uriel's not above 
Thy boasted strength if to the earnest brought, 1080 
This at the least was promis'd. What can we 
More than is done ] no more ; not one a blow 
Harder than hath been stricken hopes to strike 
And few so hard since these our dol'rous wounds 
Disabling. 'Twas by no default of ours 
Arch-potent ! that we lost ; whene'er we lost 
Compulsion overpowerd us j for myself 



IN EARTH. 283 

Dishearten'd are my hosts to impotence 

Of mind as well as body, and but for 

Politic carriage if the heavens they fell 1090 

Scarce would they keep in hand their fatal arms, 

Fatal they are, prescribe them how we will, 

Use in what manner and with best exploit, 

With strength heaven-given the enemy to use 

Infinite better puts them : we 're abased 

Even by our own auxiliars, delivered 

Unto destruction. Ask and now what gain 

Have we ? nor rash I speak when this I say 

None but a loss deplorable which way 

We turn distractful looks now to our last 1100 

Extremity arriv'd : who this foretold 

To us in heaven had on the spot been stoned 

Predicting. Thou to rule 'twas given, rule ! 

As dispensation unto us shall bring." 

Then Baal added : " Lucifer ! thou hast 
Heard : thou so long proudly secure subserve 
These accidents to glory as behoves 
One who disdain'd an equal ; out with all 
Thy strength of body, soul, so that henceforth 
We know thy utmost, it may chance suffice 1110 

For our redemption of the which we else 
Truly despair nor marvel thou for we 



284 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Have done what in us lay ; if thou also 

Hast thine declare ! that we the worst may know 

And knowing bear : worse misery were ours 

Hoping to be deceiv'd when last when most 

Fondly we hoped ; of this complaint we make 

That all all all thy schemes frustrated are 

Thy latest in the bud if Uriel wins 

This day: O loss incalculable if 1120 

He needs must win ; hope is thenceforth extinct, 

The gods expos'd to more contemptuous wrong, 

Eternally in power of those we hate 

Hating, or oh ! despising us in turn : 

Expose thee, Emperor ! in all the blaze 

Of thy prime majesty or we are — lost." 

" Tis so," rejoin'd Apollyon, " we 're bereaved 
Entirely but for this : in this recess 
Truth may, nay needs be told ; th' allied gods 
Are all incomp'tent to the task in hand. 1130 

We urge thee Lucifer! this living death's 
Intol'rable, we 're buried to our shame 
In grave self-made. O thing beyond belief ! 
That we are thus abandon'd and given o'er 
By that renown'd Viceroy who once upon 
Jehovah turn'd defying on the back 
And promis'd in the hearing of the gods 



IN EARTH. 285 

To meet him and the seven archangels too 

Conq'ring the whole : on onr embattled hosts 

The angels rush'd but down, wrested our arms, 1140 

Turned to disadvantage all we wore, 

And killed us by millions ; Uriel he 

Alone dares Lucifer engage and with 

Effect ; well may we dread unless more than 

Thou hast achiev'd thou doth ridiculous 

To make him in the sight of all who stand 

For fear aloof: this were the heart to cheer 

Of all thy foll'wers who in turn would fall 

With like result in adamantine proof 

Of soul upon the adversary, spurned 1150 

Innumerable legions to the ground, 

Or fled in wild discomfiture : O God ! 

Mace in thy mighty hand this instant forth 

Go ! so thou shalt anticipate the time 

Compulsive, and assuredly postpone." 

Then Lucifer — the light upon him broke 
Of sure experience ne'er thenceforth to be 
A moment in his agitated mind 
One moment discontinued, spake ; to this 
Persisting Pride had Hope minister'd ; to 1160 

The Throne of God he thought to mount and all 
Its posts pull up or more confirming seat 



286 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

But now first time th' emergent case in which 

He stood was visible : for Uriel he 

Hardly suffic'd, — for Uriel's those his hosts 

In no way equal, thus unparalleled 

Destruction was at hand. Coop'd as they were, 

And now disjointed all his latest joints ; 

Where aid he sought reflections only found 

Or bold incitement unto that he knew 1170 

Above him, thus was he as well by talk 

Troubled as Conscience, Th' Undying Worm 

Troubled her much but only as in dream, 

Now with the liveliest reproaches she 

Adds, yet betraying not to what he fell 

But highest head maintaining he replied, 

" Now both my last attend ! nor counsel, nor 

Yet consolation : is it unto this 

Arriv'd that when your contributions fail 

I am defaca'd? ye arm'd with forgeries 1180 

Of temper'd brass, cuirasses, mail that none 

Had they their furniture defended as 

I mine such wounds as yours the others rued. 

Tax ye yourselves as well the timid hosts 

Motion'd to infidelity when faith 

I sought by ev'ry means in them t' impulse 

For war's occasion. What deliv'rance now 



IN EARTH. 287 

Can ye expect 1 if forth in all my power 

From some postal I drive over the hosts 

Engirdling overthrown, who following 1190 

With my huge strides an equal pace could keep 

Or with my pinions % the time I wide 

Eavag'd, for flight out of the question is 

E'en could we fly : for Uriel I am armed — 

Though with ill chance my blade in twain was stroke 

Last time, another left. But what avails % 

Let me confess th' archangels' lives above 

All accident, for aye we all might fight 

Self-rais'd and thence inconsequently, but 

What if I won] abject ye hardly heave 1200 

The head or if presumptuously address 

Despairful language, or demeaning speech 

Unto your Paramount : dispose me not 

At your good wills ; I am deceiv'd, I hoped 

Most noble things where others have been found. 

Mine acts are in heaven's chancelry ; Michael 

Gloriel and Hadriel have suffer'd far 

Too much for silence ; Uriel, Sacrael ask 

And they shall grant many a cruel blow 

For them sore-bruising fell, — they have my last 1210 

Henceforth strike I 'gainst none but glowing God, 

'Tis He I Avar with, if with less T warred 



288 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Only for ye ; not one of the seven thrones 

As high as mine I pass them with contempt 

For the Supreme : war on my own account 

Now will I wage, how, and in what brave sort 

It pleaseth me alone. Lawful it is 

For ye also to war each for himself 

If so it pleaseth ; ye have lost enough 

T incite ye by no coming short of mine." 1220 

Thus he decisive, breaking up that board — 
Amaz'd and mute so strange it seem'd to them 
His resolute resolve, retiring slow 
From oft his abdicated throne by way 
Shown but to him by Night : deep underground 
Through caverns longer than the one beneath 
Taenarus, or the long Campanian, or 
That one near Acheron in Epirus found 
Thoughtful he pass'd, through all the principles 
Terrestrial and sub-ccelar bound around 1230 

The outer circle of the sun as 'twere 
In embryo order : what the poets feign 
Of their outrageous chaos (older than 
Vesta but not as some have daring thought 
Con-seminal with God, or caus'd by God,) 
Latent he saw scarce seeing, through that bound 
He penetrated down en t 'ring a third 



IN EARTH. 289 

Well guarded, then turn'd he for who that sight 

Could bear and live ] his Fate, his horrid Fate 

Risen from the centre: "Who?" cried he, "or what 

Awful! art thou?" the while his burning eyes [1240 

QEdipus-like he tore lest evermore 

They that beheld : sepulchral were the tones, 

iEacus, Minos, Khadamanthus when 

United they condemn'd a soul unto 

A worse than Tantalus his doom spoke not 

So terrible, "Thy Dira, I, Dira!" 

It answerd, " Come, thou Dead ! thou Living-dead : " 

Night boding heard that more than ghostly talk 

And gathering her force the two approached 1250 

When the Arch-potent heard ; wordless with her 

Conversing for brief space at last he cried 

" All, all is lost ; detested Prodigy ! 

Then where is Death 1 " 

" In this deep dungeon long 
For thee I waited," said embodying Grime 
No mortal can conceive to paint ; he that 
Felt as ten adders at his vitals, stung 
To madness; "Ever-living might of God," 
Then Lucifer cried out, " thou reignest through 1260 
This mis-created brain ; avenging God ! 
What 's living in my brain, and in my heart 

u 



290 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And crawling through my veins as in contempt 
Tracking my kingly soul, speak Loathesome ! " 

"I 
Am thy unnat'ral child on Destiny 
This evil day begotten." 

"Dira! thou! 
And down I trample thee, down, down," with strength 
Equivalent and more the rooted sun 1270 

Plucking he pull'd and all the orbed mass — 
For it was orbed hollow and blown up 
Like a great bubble when it drove from heaven, 
The whole he drew : so Titan ; so also 
He who the Delphian tripod all the way 
To the Ismenion brought great pines uptore 
From Mount (Eta when in his dying pangs ; 
He too who carried off the gates of Gath 
Hight Atlas by the heathen, when their bars 
He mightily, and when at Dagon's feast 1 280 

Those pillars whereupon his ample roof 
Depended, slain the princes of Ashdod, 
Ekron, and Askalon : and Lucifer 
Plucked but once wresting the stubborn poles 
With such an importunity that they 
Strong though they were as adamant no more 
They that resist than flax the touch of fire, 



IN EARTH. 291 

Him they confess'd asserting to his height 
The privilege of gods o'er matter then 
In list against him enter'd, overthrown 1290 

From all the bases, the rebelling powers 
Above in the calamity involved 
By that great suicide who — labour done, 
The merit found rewarding weight full good 
Whole continents upon him thund'ring down ; — 
But no deep sleep for him ; the philtre which 
The never-sleeping dragon set to rest ; 
Tremendous Styx which whosoe'er amongst 
The gods had tasted one whole year were sent 
To senseless lethargy, — if he the whole 1 300 

River had drunk and every drop that flows 
In Lethe it sufhc'd not : he had seen 
That dreadful Dira, the Original 
Sin, his reflected shade ; Necessity 
It was, but name not Lycophron, Rhamnuse 
Emaciated, ghastly, with blood-shot 
Eyes from their holes depending, iron whips — 
Or whips of scorpions knotted, chains, and hell- 
Lit torches nor Vengeance : close at his side 
That more than phantom stood, between the life 1310 
That was, and death which was the life to come 
Itself the mediate link, strange, terrible 

u 2 



292 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And nameless : who shall utter ] call the ghosts 

Seated within the Lebadsean Cave 

There they shall answer, but this one if all 

The universe demanded from the Throne 

Of Heaven, from Earth, the Pit, or from all three 

Yet would not answer : look ! 'tis burning Burn, 

A gory Gloom, an everlasting Death, 

Damnation; oh tremendous ! now the bonds 1320 

The nerves are sever 'd, snapp'd ; convulsive, throed 

He dies to live, within him and without 

Looks living Death with Lucifer, O God ! 

Incorp'rate, re-imag'd, that Dira, and 

Night for a spoil dividing : once before 

He saw with the gross eyes (so here to speak,) 

Now with the occulars beyond the reach 

Of the abandon'd soul : oh evil ! since 

Thy first beginning three short days suffice 

For this curs'd consequence : O shock ! ten great 1 330 

Torpedoes shocked reader less thy frame 

Than that his soul, within the moment more 

Crowded than e'er in centuries before : 

Oh ! what a wound was then ; no murder-grave 

E'er clos'd on one like that, bodily wounds 

Mortal the mortal dies, the soul receives 

More infinitely mortal and would die 



IN EARTH. 293 

How gladly it would die ! and there was Death 

Devouring the Arch-anarch's body but 

Leaving untouch'd the metamorphosed Soul 1340 

O how it thirsted ! he who Pelops slew 

Serving unto the gods, with hunger plagued 

Perpetual never the pomegranate bough 

Loaded with luscious fruit, and — plagued with thirst, 

Refreshful water mantling to his chin 

Desir'd so dear : he look'd at one and turned 

His eyes, the other fell upon them and 

From that he also turn'd but evermore 

Both were in view : oh ! cover me, thought he, 

Night! now no more for like a shade of shade 1350 

Vacant she vanish'd vertigoed away : 

They also vanish'd the uniting Three 

Without remission through the outer spheres 

Speeding hell- ward : inexpiable hate 

Theirs all his angels — one had not escaped 

That executional, following behind. 

The Holy — well-advis'd, upon the wing 

Soaring full-high on the Rebellious saw 

Perdition unappeasable swoop down 

Unto the surfeit: maledictions then 1360 

Were heard that all posterity would shock 

Were I to utter what ; dark Hecate ! thou 



294 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Heard them as well thy snaky locks erect 

Thine for the horror : infamy was his 

They cried, eternally the trusting gods 

Betray'd, now damn his soul, which presently 

Ampler than ever lavish'd forth with Death — 

Which they all tasted, and one ne'er before 

Seen nor imagin'd : once the sun went back 

Be-smitten had the sun that figure seen 1370 

He had dissolv'd away with more than a 

Numidian poison thaw'd but sun was none — 

Whether by the sole act of Lucifer 

Or by an impulse that so dread a thing 

Should be within the centre soon as that 

Fell in a common wreck upon them then 

That moment heaving, urging for the life — 

Like one whose life is lost if out the whole 

Stomach come not, at last with might and main 

It burst asunder ; far as they could fly 1380 

Away the fragments went ; then all was fused, 

What heavenly principles of things as had — 

And many had, the Chaos firm withstood 

Were overcome or spoilt: the golden trees 

Bearing gold apples — which some fablers feign 

The goddess-queen unto her consort gave 

A marriage gift, by iEgle and her two 



IN EARTH. 295 

Most watchful sisters and the dragon kept 

Beyond the ocean, these surviv'd though changed 

Like the fair fruit which Proserpina in 1390 

Unlucky hour wand'ring Avernian woods 

Pluck'd eating seven plum'd pips, — description these 

Pass, as the groves surpassing Cairo's, or 

The groves romantic orange, citron, clove, 

With tamarisks, and sycamores and such 

Tall stately palms as in the Tropics grow ; 

Or those which he whom the ^Egyptians thought 

Superior to the greater-gods of Greece 

Lycsean Pan possessed ; essenced flowers 

Like the amomum, roses found like those 1400 

Of sainted Francis of Assizi grown 

Without one thorn, baccar, acanthus, and 

Such Indian and Sabsean grasses as 

The Bacchic tigers eat, and such as fringed 

The fam'd Peneus, these were all decayed 

And lost for want of the celestial dews 

Long time before : — but chief to this remained 

The rubyfied rocks and radiants rare 

That glistening to the skies like icebergs when 

The setting sun illuminates them rose; 1410 

O fold mine eyes Calliope ! I scarce 

Endure thy catalogue, acanticone 



296 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Alalite, analcine, augite, bildstein, 

Botryolite, cornelian, celestine, 

Datolite, dipyre, moonstone, pyrochlore, 

Plasma, prase, pyrope, qnartz, scherbenkobalt, 

Sideroschizolite, sun-opallite, 

Talc, telluret, tincal, endellion, 

Feldspar, fluor, fulgurite, garnet, blende 

With all their sapphirine and satin shades, 1420 

Inwoven purples, paly plumy pearls, 

And others fail, sardonyx, sardius, 

Chrysoprasus and chrysolite, topaz, 

Amethyst, jacinth, beryl ill-explain 

The wonders : the rich jewels we admire 

Were common stones the least expressly pure 

Amongst them all, which — to combustion turned, 

Went diverse, Earth amongst one rounding mass 

Of venting, vap'ring, issuing, igneous stuff: 

But a most precious relic of its state 1430 

Primordial, O Queen ! that time sustained, 

Muse ! let me now relate, nor Midas smile 

But when the Teucrian tutelars above 

Ride high with the full moon to Westminster! 

There in the Coronation- chair 'tis found, 

That stone Aurora unto Tithonus 

One morning at the foot of Ida showed, 



IN EARTH. 297 

And he to Brito who — forewarn'd, set sail 

Before the fall of Troy and to these Isles 

Their true palladium brought ; Ierne first 1440 

Receiv'd and witness her Dardanian harp, 

Next Caledonia (th' iEtolian king 

In Caledonia slew the brawny boar,) 

England the seat of Empire last, behold ! 

Upon our towers the grasshopper we mount 

In mem'ry of the finder : Empress hail ! 

Augusta — higher than the Quirites boast, 

Thou the chief blood of Teucer, Priam was 

Th' usurping second, yet within those veins 

The Roman blood, and now from Cyrrha's grot 1450 

No draught I need a-read thy line divine, 

Thy foremost fortune : let who dare gainsay 

Urania often from her orb descends 

Admiring when — the city lapp'd in sleep, 

Thy loving laureat dazzled unto her 

That faticidal stone with pride reveals ; 

Then the old Abbey gloams and all the line 

Of crowned kings past and to come appear ; 

Then 'tis the sons of Belial think they see 

Unwonted lightnings whilst the virtuous late 14(H) 

Aurora — flashing through the midnight streets, 

Incontinently lightens to their homes. 



THE WARS OF JEHOYAH 



BOOK VII. 



THE ARGUMENT. 

This Book opens with the introduction of Religion who furnishes the 
outline of much that follows. The revelation of the Trinity. God the 
Son proceeds out of heaven inhabiting all the worlds which Lucifer had 
ruined and Chaos drawn forth. The creation of Adam and Eve. The 
Fall, and a brief history of the Adamites unto the Deluge. 

The scene is in heaven, commencing with the fourth day, the book 
concluding with the sixth. 



BOOK VII. 



Blessed be thou Religion ! in the east 

My polar star whether on shining seas, 

Or with the canvass torn the mast well-nigh 

O'er board the helm unmanageable of Hope 

On breakers driven ; or where my subject steps 

Loit'ring anigh the footstool of the throne 

I bask within the smile our gracious Queen 

Knows to dispense with such a grace — my heart 

Inspir'd to ecstacy ; or world-direct 

Barefooted palmer with but staff and scrip — 10 

The last hard crust consum'd, thou sweetest Maid, 

Divinest! still my fainting faith reviv'st; — 

Yea, bless'd be thou ! who whilst these songs I chant 

Before th' Eternal Throne accompanying stand'st 



302 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

With look devout, the harpist raising to 

The theme sublime, th' Hereditary King, 

The Thunderer — in Unity before 

The angels tuned an anthem, list'ning mine : 

Continue song — so long with vasty space 

Beyond expanse conversant, but with change 20 

From inexpressible exploits that I 

But, but for thee had paralyz'd been found 

A new Bellerophon, or may-be torn 

In other Rhodope by other mob 

Than the fam'd Thracian tore ; Heaven's war is sung, 

The Earth's, now lift me up adoring to 

The cause of that great final war in Hell 

Mankind involv'd : — but ere the seal of Death 

On all mankind we break O thou ! refresh 

At Zion's Helicon and let me drink 

The ever-living water, much I thirst. 30 

Now had the Victors from the finish'd wars 
With joy triumphant through the gilded Gates 
Of welcoming Heaven return'd, unto the Lord 
Of Glory coming with report of that 
Dire deed of the Arch-princedom when he rent 
The sun asunder. — From his vaultless height 
The All-surveying through the skies serene 
Look'd lighting out and all created things 



IN HELL. 303 

Consider'd : far within himself the King 40 

Triunal thought ; then the shechinah saw 

Divine abstraction, worshipping around 

The Inaccessible, the Secret God ; 

The seven archangels veiling worshipp'd where 

He sate paternal Deity on his 

Thron'd Throne, the billions glittering around 

Guarded in godly silence ; Zephyr — more 

Balmy than was the Occident that bore 

For Eros Psyche to his palac'd place, 

Paus'd first since he was born ; the nymphs of sea 50 

And of the rivers that the poets call 

Tethys and her fair daughter Amphitrite, 

And silver-footed Thetis, Thoa, 

Panope, Pherusa, Cymodoce, 

Callianira, Msera, Cymothoe, 

Melita, Doto, Glauce, Galatea, 

Janira, Dexamene and the rest 

More beautiful than Venus in the veil 

Wove by the Graces, — the Phantasians — 

(Fleeter than was that sacred hind whose hoofs 60 

Were brass, horns gold,) which peopled all the parked 

Palatinates of paradise in vale, 

Or on the hills, or mountains, Dryads called, 

Or Hamadryads, Orestiades, — 



304 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And all that carried in their helpful hands 

The Amalthean urns from which were shed 

Replenishment, and bloom, and liquid love, 

And shapeless rainbows over the parterres 

Painting their passions on the peerless flowers, 

Or floating on the south the picturesque 70 

Or grand with vernal charms or cloud enhanced; — 

All these as well the Pandionian birds 

That made sweet music — the bulbul the like 

Never to Hafez and Sadi, — envied 

Were they by Juno's peacocks for their plumes ; 

Fountains like Aganippe, Hippocrene, 

More limpid or than Arethuse, forgot — 

All these forgot their offices, their song, 

Their warbling flow ; e'en Time itself was stopped — 

Like a reach'd river when a radiant frost 80 

Invisibly puts forth or passeth down, 

Streaming it stopp'd ; the dial of the heavens — 

Made with two orbed suns — the one cut through 

The centre for the index, nothing marked, 

No shadow but the rather pal'd all o'er 

As did the upper aether with the light 

That gradual came forth from out the place 

Most Holy : unremember'd was the day 

When in the orient Day like that arose 



IN HELL. 305 

Turning the twilight with emblazon'd hands 90 

Behind the blazon'd balustraded hills 
Till even : O ! what cloudless skies were then, 
And soundless streams, and seas, and watchful winds, 
The angels bending breathless whilst the Lord 
Apart, Alone, First, Greatest, with Himself 
In all his Majesty express retired. 
The Lord of angels ; The Eternal, The 
Before eternity ; the Great Unborn ; 
Lord of the thunders ; Monarch sole of gods ; 
Life of all life ; The All-beholding ; The 100 

Uncircumscrib'd, Omnipotential, 
Just, and Consistent, True, and only God 
Put off at length the veil ; heaven, though prepared, 
Sunk with surprise to see, the stars were faint 
Half-falling and the whole embodied Round 
Ravish'd with rapture to a tremor turned : 
In the clear space above the fields of light 
In ether that beyond all ether shone 
Where yet no sun had overlaid, no light 
Before was kindled, in that heavenly space — 110 

Vacant but for bless'd God Jehovah to 
The heavens wholly reveal'd : O Empress ! thou — 
Pious, hast often — on the bended knee 
Contemplating, beatitude attained, 

x 



306 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To thee, O Queen ! therefore Calliope — 
Supported by her train, for thee alone 
Calliope the golden Gordian chord 
Also adoring her divinest notes 
Strikes now with hallow'd hand. 

"Go!" said The Word 
Unto God's only Son — begotten not [120 

Made, then first time to all the wond'ring host 
Of angels loud proclaim'd, " Mine only Son 
Before all worlds! Thou God of God! Thou Light 
Of Light ! Engender'd of the Father ! mount 
Thy chariot and beyond Our battlements 
With thousand thousands driving order Thou ! 
Lo ! I — as when the heavens created were, 
Even I am with Thee, and the Holy Ghost 
Proceeding from Us." 130 

The empyreum shook 
When he made ready answer, " Lo ! I come," 
And through the sacred street the archals, and 
Innumerable angels — none behind 
Remaining in their midst onward past He 
Majestic borne, through the crystalline sky 
Riding in visible glory ; at that sight 
Prone either side they worship striking loud 
Sackbut and harp : from the wide open doors 



IN HELL. 307 

Of pictur'd pearl they drove ; a radiant sun 140 

God met as it sprung forth inhabiting 
At once with blessed beings, woods and streams 
And mountains still adorn'd : with love divine 
Others were made complete His vital word 
Sufficing : thus — God's active labour urged, 
Th' organic frame and fabric of the spheres 
With high intelligences were informed 
And more — ennobled : wisest the intent 
Imprintings different made ; some more inspired 
For cold and some for heat, others between 150 

Their vigorous essence found in tepid gleams 
Moon-like, but blissful all : thus were the powers 
Of the extraneous universe unrolled, 
Where'er Imagination roams God spread 
A smiling happiness or solemn joy 
In best variety : moments were weighed 
As ages, ages unto others seemed 
But moments, and the circuits they described 
Unbounded unto man, to them — if not 
Confin'd, a pleasant journey: light some gave 160 

Others receiving or like mazy gold 
Or shaded silver lest their weaker eyes 
Should feel offence, nor less in bounties rich 
Herbs, fruits, and flowers, and a perennial spring 

x 2 



308 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And autumn own'd the whole ; no winter then 

Lock'd Nature pining up, no summer scorched 

Like sin her guiltless breast but all was plain 

Unviolated beauty, luxe, and love : 

Thus lib'ral was bestow'd, the buds revived 

Unto the beams of heaven, the continents 170 

Freshen'd put on, and all the genial hours 

Their opening blossoms blew ; but when this earth 

And all the ruin'd radiates from the sun — 

Now spinning here now there, and now full stop, 

Elohim saw, or seem'd first time to see, 

Earth, water, fire and air one gen'ral mass 

By Chaos kneaded to a lawless lump 

Of blunted, bigot principles at war 

One with the other, in his course God stopped 

Put back the golden Zones where now they lie — 180 

Where Euclid could not reach, and said, " Be still." 

And still there was, poised the central, poised 

All his loose parts : then from his bright abode — 

Before from even the archangels hid, 

A spacious Vast that made the vast appear 

Almost as nothing, visible wing'd out 

The Holy Spirit : who shall image God 1 

But ye who have his testimonial to 

Your spirit ye are sons, behold ! He winged 



IN HELL. 309 

The Holy Spirit spreading ; marvellous [190 

That speechless spreading ; heaven seem'd then from 

Itself to travel out, or like a scroll [heaven 

Of lucent light unroll'd far far beyond 

A dire and dismal blank ; calm calmest Power 

Celestial sate, and the remotest bound 

Quickening reach'd and rul'd ; Disorder then 

Retir'd into the unapparent, mute 

Ruin went after ; Void shrank silent back, 

And heady Hell its farther would have burst : 

Then was the firmament — which roofs our world 200 

As if with heaven, stretch'd out, the liquid air 

Surrounding all the Ball. Calliope ! 

Now for the silver lyre that to the earth 

Awhile belongs, not that by him they called 

O shame ! thy son affected but the lyre 

Fam'd for the golden string (reserv'd for One 

Unutt'rably renown'd,) aforetime heard 

In Salem, destin'd to be heard anon 

Then laid for ever. — At the voice of God 

The waters move with a resurgent pulse 210 

From off this orb tumultuously upheaved 

Unto one certain and appointed place 

Obedient to the fiat, " Land let be :" 

Then from the ebbing deeps the mountains rose, 



310 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And land appear'd, and em'rald verdure grew, 

Herb pleasant and the fruit-trees good in kind 

Yielding their yield, with carpeting of grass 

Delightful green, and od'rous shrubs and flowers : 

And when God call'd the dazzling sun broke forth 

Like a young bridegroom from his chamber, light 220 

Of morning, to the Occident in course 

Rejoicing there to meet again the Even 

With lights nocturnal, and the argent moon 

Rulers of signs and seasons, days and years : 

The water next brought forth the thing with life 

Swarming innumerable finned fish 

With spangled scale, or oaring it in boats 

Of lightsome shell ; the fowl they also fledged 

At once on high ; there likewise came the land 

Inhabitants all in their order good ; 230 

Not those of land or sea which reptiles were — 

Hyleosaurians of which the rames 

Buckland discourseth, or those saurs with necks 

Ophidian, or with jaws wider than are 

The crocodiles as arm'd ; these verily 

By Lucifer conceiv'd and things beside 

With them consisting, great carniv'rous fish — 

No beast hath yet been found ; the tardigrades 

And their congenitors from the Bresils 



IN HELL. 311 

To the geologists brought herbiv'rous were 240 

And harmless as were all Elohim made. 

Thus ended God creation all the sphere 
Diurnal finish'd to the hymning harps 
Of angels fill'd with admiration, earth 
Comparing to Elysium, and when 
The morning shone again an ode they tuned 
To magnify the Maker of the worlds 
Who said and it was done : harmonious sound 
Filled the firmament all new-born things 
In rapture joining ; the resplendent sun 250 

Coursing aloft melodious drove his wheels 
Vibrating to the music from the frame 
Of universal Nature, the deep sea 
Reciprocating back in bated base 
From the profoundest, and with choral voice 
The mystic elements from hidden shrines 
Acknowledg'd their Restorer utt'ring praise. 

Thus had the sixth successional of time 
As reckon'd by the Hebrews when the son 
Of Amram in the Moabitish hand 260 

Of " The Beginning" Avrote, — the sixth had risen, 
Six times the Spirit wav'd those wondrous wings 
When God to all his angels said, " A man 
In Our own Image We will make that here 



312 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

He have dominion ; him We up will raise 
Between the fallen powers, unfaltering 
To stand, or sinning fall as it shall please 
Only himself, heaven for his high reward 
Death for the punishment." 

God said; but O ! 270 
O who shall Adam sing ! perfect, god-like 
Upon th' enamell'd ground as there in all 
The person of his Maker forth he came ; 
Not from a tree as the Arcadians tell, 
Nor as the Javans by a Titan formed 
And — animated with the solar fire, 
Offensive to the God Cybele reared 
In secret ; nor as ignorant moderns hold 
Wild as was Orsus, or those apes they call 
" Men of the woods ! " but perfected in all 280 

His thoughts, his ways, the first, the prime of men 
Such as ne'er woman bore — Hyperion's son 
Nor he Hyperion, nor of Myrrha born 
Adonis, or the son of Peleus — killed 
By Paris, or Hsephestion in a brawl ; 
Nireus loveliest of the Grecian race, 
Or any one beside, or bond, or free 
Of his posterity : the mountains through 
The loving mists look'd down, the airs hung o'er 



IN HELL. 313 

Him moveless — mad with joy, and all the world 290 

Spell-bound acknowledged at once her lord 

And master : passion and the sense of change 

He knew not but with more than piercing eye 

Turning to heaven took in the whole at once : 

O Muse ! if any words had power thy words 

Rock'd the orb'd Earth to hear ; the mem'ry Earth 

Yet keepeth though within her well-nigh dead 

And gone, for dark and wanton was thy youth 

Charg'd with uncounted crime, thy middle age 

Dishonour'd. Nymphs of Solyma ! the Prince 300 

Of Peace, the Great Restorer shall be sung 

The Second Adam to sublimer strains 

And hasten, haste ! now the first witness on 

The earth for Adonai, son of Love, 

Delight of Morning, from the Fountain Head 

Of Love and Light we sing ; the fav'rite of 

God born into the early earth whilst yet 

The flowers with fragrance fill'd the spicy Spring 

Shed at his feet her horn with blessing full : 

Nor Corybantes, nor Curetes there 310 

Nor suckling goats, but of the coming time 

The father he — at once to manhood brought 

Behold him ! then the wilderness was glad, 

The solitary place the desert smiled 



314 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And blossom'd as the rose ; the fir, the pine, 
The box together beautifully grew : 
Offspring of Gods ! The Father, and The Son 
And Holy Ghost : the forests then broke forth 
The mountains joining in a gen'ral shout, 

" O all ye powers of the Lord," they sung, 320 

"Ye Heavens, Sun, Moon, and Stars ; the Day, the Night, 
Dews, Showers, and Winds of God, Waters, and Wells, 
Floods, Rivers, Oceans, Earth and all that dwell 
In Water, and in Air, and all the Beasts 
Bless, bless, and praise the Lord." The angels then 
They also hymned saying, " All the earth 
Doth worship Thee The Father ; unto Thee 
All angels cry aloud, the heavens, and all 
The powers therein ; to Thee the cherubim 
And seraphim continually cry 330 

Holy Lord God of Sabaoth ! the heaven, 
The earth are full of Thy great Majesty 
And Glory : Thou ! the King of Glory, Son 
Of the Eternal Father, infinite 
Thy Majesty, at the right hand of God 
Sitting, we Thee acknowledge : Thou ! also 
The Holy Ghost the Comforter this day 
We magnify we worship evermore 
World without end." 



IN HELL. 315 

Thus they the wedded worlds 340 
Following, the lilies lifting up their heads, 
Reeds and bull-rushes from the copious springs 
Of water ; all the myrtle trees put on 
The fairest blossoms ; all the flying birds 
In wind, the fish in wave, the cattle in 
The green rose upward in a mingled voice 
Out from their souls of love : from dawn to dark 
The whole creation hymn'd, when they returned — 
Leaving the spirit Gladness, back to heaven 
Resounding to receive. Then brightest wine 350 

Brimm'd all the golden chalices outspread 
Dazzling upon the citron-tables sphered 
Where upon great occasions feast was made — 
Feast metropolitan, the Courts of all 
The North, South, East, West bid, — that wine which Christ 
Unto his saints shall pour, than the Falern 
Dearer, or Chian, or than Tenedos, 
Wine of no Formian vintage : rich desserts — 
That the Tartarian emp'ror's had disgraced, 
From off the trees of life laden with fruit 360 

Of various kinds as the immortals eat, 
Great pommeloes, pomegranates, tufted pines 
Like Ceres' diamonded and rubied, more 
Luscious than were the Lotophagians joyed 



316 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

By the returning mariners from Troy 

Home long-desir'd forgotten ; cocoas, dates 

Finer than Tafilat, and grapes that in 

The Sogdian valley grow, or those the spies 

Discoyer'd when they search'd the Promised Land ; 

Figs had the senate seen Carthage were saved 370 

And Cato's shamed, and olives finer than 

The Lycabessos whence Palladian oil, 

With bread-like fruits, and all that trailed or hung — 

Melons, guavas, o'er the swarded thyme 

More than Hymettan, daisied meadows mixed 

With vegetable cups of pearl o'erfllled 

With manna, — these for a dessert were placed 

Ready, with unimagin'd luxuries 

Beside, things lavender'd, candied quince, 

Gourds, semilucent jellies, cinnamon 380 

Creams, tinctur'd syrops, spiced dainties, and 

Elixirs from strange kernels, possets sweet 

To plenitude, and others wanting name ; 

These well were serv'd, the servers far more fleet 

Than Atalanta, or Dyname fair, 

Or heavenly-fair Astyoche, or she 

The youngest Grace Pasithae her eyes 

Like azure yet more deep, the other two 

Had been their humblest handmaids, she that went 



IN HELL. 317 

For Phoebe Syrynx's self — the pride and song 390 

Of all the shepherd plains, the daughters seven 

Divinely form'd — by Niobe the queen 

Above Diana chastest goddess thought, 

Nor worthier ; some like fair Limnoria 

Callianassa, Thalia, Apseudes, 

Amphinome, Amatheia amber-haired, 

Brought in transparent shell the choicer fruits 

Of the deep ocean on the taxed twigs 

Hard'ning to coral calcedonies, and 

Anemonies and sea-cups grown so rich — 400 

So prodigal of bloom that all the gods 

Receiv'd them wondering whilst around their heads 

Chaplets were wreath'd by vestals that no print 

Left of the lucid finger on the leaves 

Of rose or tulip that an essence breathed 

Through the surrounding air. Name not the feasts 

Of Cythera in April when the moon 

Rose new o'er all Achaia : then I wot 

They banquetted the viands rich as rare 

Sharp too their hunger, (our bless'd Saviour said 41 

That heavenly bread and heavenly wine was in 

His Kingdom eat and drunk ;) the woods, the springs, 

Rivers and seas had in their absence been 

Well search'd for this provision, restorates 



318 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Honied, conserves of the most melting things, 

Crystaliz'd lozenges that diamonds looked 

Or still more sparkling stones, and cakes, and cates 

More balmy than the Idnmean balms 

And odoriferous in golden shields, 

Whity opals, great onyxes, and orbed 420 

Salvers that on the massive sideboards stood 

For asteroids and moons, nor wanted then, 

As if the queen of Elf-land, and the three 

Hesperides, and all the Msenads from 

Out the brown Indian vales, and all that own 

The silver grots Janassa fair, Spio, 

Agave, Ampithoe, Orythea, 

Had cater'd all : with more than lightning feet 

Desire — where'er it went, was followed 

And oft anticipated ; like the shade 430 

Of love they followed so light not one 

Of all the spreading flowers a bruise received, 

Only when touch'd the heliotropes gave out 

Fresh perfume : and the concert ! (diff'rent from 

That which aforetime for the wasting war 

Was rais'd in celebration,) all the winds 

Even the winds were charm 'd, the Sirens had 

They heard their man-seducing strains were thought 

But scrannel, and the same Orpheus thought 



IN HELL. 319 

Of his excelling own : Euterpe ! thou 440 

Wast then enchanted so that seldom since 

Hath any heard thy flute, what Hermes taught 

The son of fair Antiope the strains 

That won the dolphins such thou could'st not bear, 

Nor those which mov'd the else insensate stones ; 

Choral with psalters, cyth'rons, timbrels, pipes, 

Virginals, vials, tabors, out it gushed 

That music and o'erflowing reach 'd the Hound 

That girdled all the universe ; it sunk 

Into the soul as light into the sea 450 

Windless and waveless with delight and joy, 

Or like the breath of God into the soul 

Of Adam when the paradise prepared 

For occupation and with right aspect 

Unto the gate of " Judah " duly turned 

A living soul, he felt. 

Return to him 
Return ! First-Father ; whilst we loiter thus 
The sun hath run his course and Adam found 
Himself alone : his garden he had traced 460 

The trees, shrubs, herbs, he knew, vain moderns knew 
Better than your Linnaeus, than Buffon 
The beasts the fish, or he who drown'd because 
Nature so well interrogated in 



320 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

All but that secret of Eurippus seven 
Times in the day outflowing, even he 
The Stagyrite his master had confessed 
That made him silly, Locke, Galileo too. 
Ye simple ! like the Cretans who the tomb 
Of Jove to strangers show'd, O simple ! ye 470 

Who with the Book of Genesis in hand 
Acknowledging, to unbelievers grant 
It was not meant geology to teach 
Nor Joshua astronomy, ye cast 
The pearl before the swine which rend you, hear 
Warning while it is time, noviciate 
Assisted as a child that thinks he rides 
Before he even walks : the origin 
Of man is truly told, made perfect in 
The Image of his Maker : History 480 

Profane as well as sacred solveth doubt 
And settles that grave matter, it remained 
For those who call themselves the wise the great 
Philosophers in pride to question both, 
Were God before them they would question God. 
Then Adam slept and whilst he slept the Lord 
Out of his side took Eve : hard 'twere to tell 
The meeting when he 'woke, in ecstasy 
She knelt beside so exquisitely fair 



IN HELL. 321 

And lovely that with glad surprise he leaped 490 

Unto his feet : her eyes were each a heaven 

The whole contract within the long black fringe 

That bound the blue and in the centre he 

Shone like a god elected to the throne, 

Upon him she look'd as Eunonie buds 

Dropping upon Vertumnus : Aphrodite 

Risen from the waves with all her simple charms 

Nat'ral was better dress'd than if she wore 

Such bracelet as Eriphile, or that 

Phidias added to Minerva's neck : 500 

"O beautiful!" he cried, " beautiful Eve ! " 

With that her glossy ringlets parting back 

Over her ivory shoulders in his arms 

With tremulous tenderness he rais'd her up 

Imprinting on her forehead many a kiss 

Of rapt'rous love, pressing her damask cheeks, 

Sustaining all her person in his arms : 

Upon him fell her balmy breath, her heart 

Swimming in fond desire, and O ! her speech 

For trilling melody and persuasion soft, 510 

" Adam!" she answer'd echoing back the voice 

Of his own soul, but who shall now express 

The concord 1 who his sunny shade can catch, 

Or who unto the bale-born blind describe 



322 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The gorgeous clouds pil'd on the glassy floor 
Of the wide sea % to curtain in the Sun 
With loving Alia : our Mother this 
The First, the flower of those whom God so fair 
Hath made the feminine ; so fair was she 
The pagans calling her Pandora paint 520 

The envious goddesses about her with 
Insidious gifts : none of her daughters came 
To like perfection, (save, O Ladye Queen ! 
One at the most,) nor she Acrisius King 
Of Argos vaunted, Alcumena, nor 
Europa ; her long hair was melted gold 
Like Hippolita's, such Apelles gives 
His mistress, so the Cyprian, in such locks 
Prided Actea, the surpassing flower 
The last of all the Ptolemies the like, 530 

And O ! Euphrosyne thine own confess 
Outdone, Aglaia has. Like memory 
Of a most pleasant dream, Religion ! tell — 
Nor heed Eurynome with envy filled, 
Eve's passing excellence ; over the earth- 
Suppose it parch'd she rose a golden cloud 
Earth wond'ring how without existence were 
Or joy, or happiness : O most beloved, 
Most beautiful ! to man the sun, Eve was 



IN HELL. 323 

The reflex moon, the Earth enjoying both 540 

As satiated to the folded depths ; 
Within her eyes her history she read 
Day after day then slept as some young babe 
Within her guardian angel's ample arms : 
" O shut mine eyes ! " Earth said each even, " ere 
Thine own in sleep be closed, I dissolve 
Unto the heart away ; " and as in heaven 
So likewise on the earth the printless air 
Was fill'd with shining Spirits, soft Desires 
And Adorations that incarnate went 550 

Forth of our Father's and our Mother's soul 
Fulfilling their behests ; all these would crowd 
Around the imag'd Earth, their milky arms 
And hands across their heaving bosoms placed, 
And so admiring love ; but Adam most : 
Wand'ring the warbling woods, or where the flowers 
In bush and brake and o'er the velvet turf 
Invitingly upon each other crowd 
The live-long day they went unweeting time 
Inquiring and informing ; when the chaste 560 

Delia from the zenith prompted rest 
" O gentle Eve!" said he, and brought her then 
Unto the nuptial bower but Phosphor found 
Oft-times their mutual looks upon him cast 

y 2 



324 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Watching the rising sun and ofF'ring up 
Pious orison to Almighty God. 

Now Eve as cognisant of starry heaven 
When Adam of the bless'd Creator spoke 
Correctly reason'd, yet such love as his 
And absolute entrancement felt not but 570 

Kneeling upon her spouse her looks she turned 
Exemplar best— still would she have of Him 
They worshipp'd there, "For O !" said she, "when first 
Myself I found, and these mine eyes about 
Inquiring cast no other god saw I 
Nor can I realize beyond thee ought 
Whom I can love, but as expressing thank 
Short invitation make, impulsive bliss 
From thee proceeding The Invisible 
I praise that with thee — Visible, I exist/' 580 

Then up she rose and held him in her arms : 
So she we read of in the Song of songs 
The Rose of Sharon. 

Then there came a Dream 
Far more renown'd than the Assyrian's, or 
Any they told Tiresias, or than any 
The Pythonissa : this ; a garden filled 
With variegated arborescence in 
The midst (from which four radiate rivers flowed,) 



IN HELL. 325 

A stately tree, another at the side 590 

Most sightly: then Jehovah call'd, " Of all 

Eat free, saith God, of everything ye see 

Within the garden but of this one which 

The Tree of Knowledge is, eat ye shall not 

And if— ye die:" then Adam 'woke, " 'Tis Eve," 

Cried he, "none other," who awakening 

She also recapitulates the same. 

First then they found how much to God was owed — 

How much they were indebted, singleness 

Of heart he claims, and will be reverenc'd, " O 600 

Fairer than angels ! " our forefather cried, 

" My spouse of gladness ! still too much engaged 

One with the other, seasonably to warn 

Against idolatry this notice is : 

Eve ! thou art my companion, my delight, 

My passion, thus unto my loving heart 

Mingling our souls I clasp thee, unto Him 

Who made us for the dwellers of the earth 

Give all the praise." 

One sultry noon reclined 610 

Close by a brook their mirror'd faces Eve 
Takes for her theme, "And O!" cried she, "if thus 
In this true glass so beautiful we look 
What are we in reality ! " she paused — 



326 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

" Now let me favour find ! whilst thou hast slept 

One day a wondrous seraph from thy side 

Beckoning converse made of that our dream 

And saith, ' Hath God that Tree so good denied ] 

For if thereof ye eat ye gods become 

Both good by eating taught and evil too 620 

In that ye thus delay delicious meat;' 

Nor only that, this duplicate so fair 

Which cometh only as we come and goeth 

Away as unsubstantial when we leave 

He saith a picture actual shall become 

And all the world our offspring present fill." 

So said soft Eve with blandishment of air 

Of gesture proof of that forbidden fruit 

That — long desir'd, in secret her had filled. 

So Hamlet royal Dane, once look'd as then 630 

Heart-struck lost Adam, back he started, " Oh ! 
Eve ! Eve ! what hast thou done]" cried he, " our dream 
Interpretation had that none may dare 
Gainsay : woe to us ! who is this, this, this, 
This seraph who — so call'd, hath thee deceived ? " 

From forth a cypress avenue he came ; 
'Twas Lucifer : bloodshedder ! O thou worst 
Than the Iscariot who if he sold 
The man-God Jesus Christ had yet forbore 



IN HELL. 327 

Our simple mother ; O thou Judas ! thou 640 

Falsest dissembler, Sinon ! O thou wolf 

Fleshing a virgin deer ; Ganilion ! thou 

Burglar, thou robber, thou enticer, thou 

Despoiler, thou denier, O thou most 

Pitiless fiend ! From hell had he returned 

To spoil mankind if God he could not spoil 

And Eve was thus seduc'd, that innocent 

He slyly stole and — as the god who changed 

Himself into the grape his end to gain 

And gain'd, so he with sugar'd sophistry 650 

Assailing covert, to her bower returned 

Her pluck'd and broke for ever both the wings : 

O merciless apostate ! take my curse 

And all the curses of our common-race 

Unto thee ; O thou malice-bearer take 

Whilst blessing on mine enemies I pour 

Abundant, they are men, though merciless 

My wrong and wanton-stung, are they not men ? 

But thou ! above all angels ! oh thy guilt 

Eedoubled ever by the distance mounts 660 

Too high for God's forbearance : none for thee 

Dar'd even if they would — not Christ to pray ; 

O thou vile serpent ! thy revenge shall have 

Its perfect work. Other heroic lyre 



828 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Immortal sounding this Conspirator 

This way hath trac'd or I : before the man 

Kingly stood he all his original bright 

Utterly tarnish'd yet he yet was grand ; 

As Jove to Semele appear'd with all 

His thunders, he to Eve : " The Tree !" he spake 670 

To Adam, "boldly take," but he bewailed, 

" Disorganiz'd hast thou the heavens," cried he, 

" Now earth, begone !" the bad Betrayer past: 

Such was the might of Adam ere he fell 

Even the Anarchist when he forbid 

His presence was abash'd. Alas ! what pains 

Were his, the sun clomb lab 'ring up the sky 

And linger'd feeling down, and if the horns 

Of the sad moon appear'd none noted, " O ! 

Lift not thy looks upon me," he would say, 680 

" O Eve !" who on his neck lamenting hung, 

" Thou, thou hast both undone ; we are undone, 

Our righteousness is lost, our perfect will 

In whom we stay'd and that so long reward 

Of every good and perfect gift was ours : 

Ingrate ! to doubt his truth on which we stood 

So surely grounded ; by this monstrous act 

Death enters we 're destroy'd. Is it not writ 

Upon the firmament that thou shalt love 



IN HELL. 329 

The Lord thy God with all thy heart and mind 1 (>90 

For this the stars the holy angels read 

Unto us frequent hallowing discourse 

Of good and evil ; oh ! that evil thus — 

So guarded from, should come : was not thy faith 

Conviction 1 nothing less it could be with 

Such miracles around. Woe, woe to us." 

Prone with her hair dishevel'd Eve was fallen 
Upon the grass : so of Boeotian Thebes 
The helpless queen changing to stone when all 
Her joys were slain : and oh ! those virgin tears 700 
Phaethusa, Lampethusa ne'er such tears 
Inconsolable wept ; Serena when — 
Sir Calepine away, her dreadful fate 
She waited : but at last when she could speak, 
" O thou!" cried she, " much injur 'd lord in that 
I ardently ador'd thee with perverse 
Affection ; my delight, from whom my soul 
Could not refrain although by God forbid, 
Above my sex so noble % woe is me ! 
Thy sight is mine, in all that life requires, 710 

Without thee unendurable were life ; 
O let me to our gracious Author now 
With such repentance as I have to give, 
God is not deaf, — else mad I die with that 



330 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Cruel reflection that though perfect found 
For my defeasance ne'ertheless thou 'rt fined 
Me losing : can th' inexorable law 
Which executes on both my fault be just?" 

Thus she at random passionately moved 
For this great trespass, swooning at the last 720 

To pale inanity away ; our Sire 
Then thought her doom completed and despaired, 
In his delirium wishing her's his fate 
Or that for her the penalty he paid : 
Thus of fatality took he in turn 
Electing Eve, nor yet by any Fate 
Lachesis, Clotho forc'd. O woman ! well 
The poets feign upon thy lips thy looks 
Persuasive Pitho ; from the birth of time 
Thou rulest all : the angels string and strike 730 

Their lyres in vain to man when thou art near 
With thy preferred prattle ; nay some tell 
Even of angels who their lyres, themselves, 
And God forgot to listen to the soft 
Melodious pulsing of thy harping heart ; 
The thought distracts myself what I for thee 
In the green youth endur'd ; I rose, I stormed — 
As he Astrseus storm'd, the heavens, and thought 
The gods were all mine own and with them thee, 



IN HELL. 331 

But O ! less careful than the Titan, chains 740 

Of iron eschewing as unsightly, chains 

Of flowers for them I chose and smiling bound 

My idol-prisoners and woman bound 

Fallen naked with the folly in her lap ; 

Ah me ! my locks were shorn ; seven weary years 

I pin'd in prison 'till in manhood strong 

I burst the bars ; I burst, posterity ! 

But O a goddess met whose love is placed 

Upon a royal prince ask not the name : 

Thus 'tis with thousands, nor let me complain 750 

No Omphale is mine, and Naso loved 

Scarce less imperial, Tasso also loved 

A potent princess, Marcus Anthony 

For one disdain'd the Empire of the World. 

Thus reason'd Adam what to God is sin 

To me is grace and though the prompter be 

Detestable the mischief hath been done 

By force of argument within her power 

Had Eve been careful to resist with ease 

But she accepted and, behold ! how much 7 MO 

She loveth : when therefore back she returned 

Herself unto he clasp'd her in his arms 

Sharing her destiny. 

Was it for this 



332 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Th' angelicals their cadenc'd cymbals tuned 

When this Elysium was first prepared 

Fairer than the Hesperian, or where 

Aladdin found such vegetable growth, 

Or any the Parnassians celebrate — 

The groves of Daphne, or th' Italian groves, 770 

Or where the Naiads and Sylvanus haunt 

Continual whether in Cycladean isles, 

Or on the continents with myrtle crowned, 

In Pontus, or where Dido reign'd and died, — 

Ah ! woe the day for us when that palm'd pair 

Our authors in the flesh disloyal turned 

Eating the Fruit prohibited and thus 

That Garden lost. Then our fond mother as 

The goddess of the Morn on Cephalus, 

On Adam look'd, unheeding at their feet 780 

The poison-flowers which sprung in rankness up : 

O that love-look, and oh ! the consequence. 

Exultant back the Winner sped to hell 
For Death, the while Sin he had left behind 
With Eve his victim only yet conceived 
Not born ; then hell had concourse, when the thing 
Fie told the damn'd, " Immaculate!" they cry, 
" Thy hate, we hail thee, Lucifer ! once more 
As erst in heaven our King, now King in Hell :" 



IN HELL. 333 

Adramelec himself was one who hailed 790 

And even Timiel, Nebo, Rassach, 

Darpathrus, Aricon, and all that he 

Himself had slain close follow'd: — dreadful they 

Receiv'd him formerly, to ruin Hell 

Seem'd fallen the moment that his hated soul 

They saw arrive ; all their black Effrits rose 

As well against him as if all their flesh 

And bones grew baleful bigger ; the dispraise 

Was frightful, God forgotten all their hate 

Fell on him sole ; like those Eloo trees 800 

In Tongatabo — which their morais shade, 

Swarming with bats, the serpents bred like worms 

Long worms in the intestines of the soul, 

Mounting even they were heard and many winged 

Together curling up — like those which sped 

As Pliny tells for Arabie across 

The sea, made at him : what his Dira did 

Attempt no record, Death abandon'd both, 

His joy augmented hoping yet to feast 

Upon his leavings for he hunger'd still 810 

Nay more than ever and imagin'd hell 

Already strewn before him ; it was not, 

The Devilry prevail'd, Lucifer turned 

Involuntary round and back to earth — 



334 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Like a gaunt famish'd and sore-wounded wolf 

Unto the sheep-fold whence his wounding was, 

Heart-grip'd with anguish came. The rest is told. 

As heretofore with rage now upside down 

With acclamation the infernal realms 

Rung pouring billion foulest spirits forth 820 

Death hunger-mad rampanting at their head, 

Arms not alone in theirs but even in 

His scarce discernible — his ghosty hands : 

(No Mantuan pipe is mine !) the farther gloom 

Of hell was left to Desolation fixed 

In horror as he was to see them whet 

Their scathful swords as onward still they urged 

From all the steaming bounds unto the dykes 

Thrown up to earthward, Outer Darkness he 

Beckon'd and was obey'd ; I saw them both 830 

Look one into the other's brassy eyes 

Their heads so close together that one knew 

Scarce which was which — and Outer Darkness too 

StifFen'd for fear, the two would fain have skulked 

When Night with tempest bursting from her lips 

Dragg'd Terror in convulsions to their feet 

And with unequall'd fury heap'd such chains 

Upon him and so quench'd with fiery irons 

His most egregious balls that from that time 



IN HELL. 335 

To them and Lucifer he ministered 840 

As an especial slave ; no sooner she 

Had this effected than the four outspread 

Their clapping wings and from the Agnates cut 

Th' astonied rebels ; hesitating they 

Stopp'd when that great she-spectre Terror put 

Upon them each — a Frankenstein's and drove 

Them back so fast that Desolation (glad 

Although he was, and Outer Darkness both 

With company,) had much ado to keep 

Up, yet they kept but with tormenting ill 850 

That added to their aspects ; then the flames 

Darted to meet them, and the spirits peeled 

Again by fasting fires resum'd the wail 

Wail that no one beside myself outside 

The Malebolge hath heard ; u Hope, hope extinct 

Of heaven ! " said they, " then hackle hell ! " cried Night, 

" And labour Lucifer a throne whereon 

In league we rule ye : " Desolation looked 

Unto them the same words, and Terror took 

Hell to himself for eyes and out upon 860 

Them so petrinc nar'd that every one 

Instant stoop'd down and tore with all his might 

Great rocks for building up, — hell actual sunk 

Such was the tear they made ; these dash'd amain 



336 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Upon the centre (whilst they dash'd they made 

All thunder feeble,) the foundation thus 

Of Pandemonium was laid, whilst he 

That erst upon the sun so strongly built 

Conceiving in his fertile brain the plan 

Blazon'd it like a picture on the roof 870 

Where all observ'd and wrought according on. 

Meanwhile like comets — all the compasses 
Fearfully threaten'd wildly sweeping through 
Th' adjoining spheres with Pestilence behind 
Those Anarks upon earth full soon arrived, 
And with a shock so dread the pole was turned 
Present aside and calorific clouds 
Out-pouring all things wither'd ; then the blight 
Condensing fell in flaky fashion down 
On paradise and wall-eyed Winter rushed 880 

At once upon the scene with storm and hail 
And bitter cold and snow : hard change was then 
Greater than Palestina's since the plough 
Raz'd all her cities and they sow'd the Land 
With barren salt ; or that iEgyptia mourns 
Abas'd, the Nile neglected by the Curds 
Or Othman conq'ror ; and the Punic Coasts : 
And oh ! our ancestors, — when he her son- 
Husband — unwitting, of Jocasta went 



IN HELL. 337 

With Antigone imprecated forth 890 

Of the plague-smit Diospolis, they felt ! 

These more when God by one a cherub drove 

Them forth of Eden dreading as they went 

Some power would kill them, e'en the trembling trees 

They fled so menacing they then appeared. 

Sad Muse ! continue. Adam first took heart 
Crying, " My Eve ! thy falling tears be stanched 
One yet remains to comfort thee beside 
The God who cloth'd us in these careful skins ; 
The firmament o'ercanopies as well 900 

The world we wander, and the moony night 
Again shall wrap thee slumb'ring in mine arms : 
And I a bower will raise which thou shalt twine 
With gold and purple mosses, in some wood 
Wherein is honey stor'd in antique trunks, 
Trellis'd with green and richly cluster'd vines ; 
And what ! if yet some fruits delicate taste 
Disprove as sour enough we '11 find as ripe 
As wholesome as the apples we have left, 
And some with kernels for more solid meal, 910 

See! how they hang upon the bushes here." 

Then sighing our disconsolate mother thus. 

" O thou too kind, thou much too gen'rous lord ! 
If now I fainted but for this alone 

z 



338 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

That in my fall from innocence I drew 
Other my unreflecting self beside 
From O ! how much I drew thee canst thou say, 
Who the amount can draw] that thou enjoy edst 
Before me in the Eden we have lost." 

Thus they discours'd morn, noon, and when the even 
Claimed upgathering the leaves fallen from [920 

The spreading trees, with care a bed composed 
Within a grotto and so rested first. 

Once as from toil with eventide he came 
Laden with roots that in the woods were found 
And succulents his Eve she came not forth 
As was her wont to meet him when sometimes 
At home she would remain for such slight cause 
Of necessary work or listless ease 

As it behoved, and the arching door 930 

Of entrance our Progenitor had reached 
When piteous bleat within he startled heard ; 
An antelope pursued had thither fled 
For refuge, Eve intently hanging o'er 
Her new-born fawns instant upon the seek 
Instinctively for the maternal teats : 
Nor yet long after by a streamlet he 
Found Eve with two small infants their small limbs 
Surveying fondly for the Lord had said, 



IN HELL. 339 

" The woman's seed that seraph's head shall bruise." 
These were their pledges and revolving time [940 

Increas'd their numbers manifold until 
From that the Table-Land and primal home 
The earth grew populous. 

Then war arose 
For at the outset Cain his brother slew 
And Abel had avengers : earth moreo'er 
Possess'd incarnately by beasts such as 
This day their bones are found in mountain-caves 
Antediluvian in Kirkdale, or those 950 

Upon the Mendips, in Franconia, and 
Remoter countries, bones of ursines, pards, 
And others. 

Now as Adam sate before 
His tent, in the perspective was descried 
The Cains upmount on libbards ; that curs'd seed 
Outcast from their own territory came 
To glut their lust of blood ; nor only these 
Spurring came on the Eephaims gotten by 
The coupling Belials of such kind they called 960 

The demi-gods Silenes diadem-crowned — 
Cast in dark bronze (one in the Louvre stands,) 
Or in dark marbles carv'd, crying " Evo ! 
Evose!" in their furor, Psyllians, 

z 2 



340 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And Ophiagii of ancient leaves, 

Cyreanites or Marsians ; these amongst 

Mankind rode eminent : Adam they took 

Falling on Seth's unmindful of the shrieks 

Dying behind, and far they ravag'd fire 

And slaughter with them ; such the Vandals ne'er 970 

Did Genseric their king : spoil too was theirs 

Numberless pris'ners, so with fiendish yell 

Unto their city in the Land of Nod 

Captive they drove. 

Now where the Cainites dwelt 
Each art they long employ 'd in stone and wrought 
The metals to their use ; upon a mount 
Hewn to proportion for the base uprose 
The capitol of polish'd marbles built 
Unto the starry roof through all the grades 980 

Porphyries, onychites, lazulis, verds, 
And tables rich contrast ; on pedestals 
Of orizum or gold huge columns raised, 
Friezes, and architraves, and cornices 
Festoon'd ; there thron'd upon a dais did Cain 
His sire arraign, accuser and his judge, 
Calling the gods to witness that when he 
Ate of the one and not the other Tree 
Of Life to all posterity he was 



IN HELL. 341 

A traitor worthy death ; Adam — as proud 990 

As Csesar when to Pompey's bust he turned 
Death-stricken, Cain adjudg'd, the Seths as slaves 
Unto the giants who immediate set 
Them to a monument of that first war 
Fratricidal. 

Then Cain's ambitious son 
Mounted his father's throne ; Seth — mustering, warred 
Against him and that capital at last 
Took, fifty thousand Rephaims, and of men 
Twelve times that number to the sword were put, 1000 
Cain's corpse the lupals had ; the city hung 
In balance unregarded fires therein 
Smould'ring in desert homes and priest-fled fanes 
Made lifeful with the images ; the Seths 
Felling the trees collected on great piles 
The slain ; and overthrew the pyramids, 
One o'er the grave of Adam Adam's heart 
With dedication to the gods of Cain 
ContahVd, and eke a crypt nine sided nine 
Names on the sides engrav'n, "Ekriel! Moloch! 1010 
Adramelec ! Togarmah ! Haraphon ! 
Baal ! Apollyon ! Nisroch ! Zabrash ! 
To them and all their lesser — Zynithrine, 



342 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Atoncryntal, Aphracac, all the nine 

Upon the Nine Great waiting, this," thus read 

They that inscription. 

Then Cainan returned 
With all his Nephilim, avenging war 
Put to the utmost. Thou ! who me inspirest 
To sing the battles of the gods, thou need'st 1020 

The history Adamic whence the cause 
Of the concluding war, therefore record 
When by the Valley of the Waters two 
Mann'd armies met, nor Aristarchus blame 
The episode : now giants were desert 
To Seth's, and these disdaining Adams seek 
Each other in the battle treading down 
Before them, pouring blood ; thus the first day 
Amongst the Rephaims ; when the morrow came 
With cries of scorn unto it they return 1030 

Heaping the dead until from orient steep 
The sun compell'd short truce War's panting hounds 
Watching impatiently his slope, full breathed 
Op'ning again until the skies grew black : 
The third day was the same ; the fourth was like ; 
The fifth; the sixth; the seventh when some one spoke 
Of a compromising ; the living halt 



IN HELL, 343 

Upon their weapons whilst a grand debate 

Their chieftains hold : at length these were agreed 

And all the cities feasted. 1040 

Thence as one 
The races multiplied 'till war arose 
Not as between the Cains and Seths but those 
Amongst them who would certain gods adore 
New come and they were many errand-sent 
By Night from Hell to Lucifer, — Zamiel 
Was one ; and so wag'd they that in one year 
The east was desert all nor throng'd the rest : 
Thence came a lull to revelrie devote 
And former aptitudes of sport unclean 1050 

So that half-emptied earth soon overflowed 
And one incessant tide of mortal sin 
Immitigable puls'd resistless on. 

Then came the end : the Holy Spirit grieved 
As despited, Jehovah to the heart 
That man was made ; — O Muse of Zion ! thou 
Forbiddest, for a thousand years were scarce 
Sufficient to expose that guilty race ; 
Like imitative sheep if one but leaps 
Whether with cause or none, they all, so men 1060 

The primal rebel follow'd. On the shrine 
Of glory in the midst of which God dwelt 



344 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Long visible on earth, whereto they sought 

The righteous e'en to Noah, Lucifer 

His substitution rais'd unto the clouds 

Sublime ; conjuring spirits in such shapes 

For stones as were appropriated — forms 

Had they innumerable, thus he built 

By word of mouth a living temple up 

Zamiel the pontiff, priestesses with power 1070 

More than the Vestals had ; here men adored 

The King of Hell who fill'd the inner shrine 

With a dread figure and the earth o'er-ruled : 

But so not long — for what is time, all time 

Unto the angels, how much less, if aught 

It be to God ] the Elements turn'd so 

That the alchymists — who the genii bound 

Of Air, and Fire, and Water, (more adept 

Than those of latter times who thought to take 

Defter Protceus and to purpose put,) 1080 

Mark'd, and the sorc'rers summon'd ; instantly 

From Asrac snows where some did Trivia bay, 

From fens mephitic some with herbs occult 

As the Sardinian, from the caverns some 

With operous ores, and witches with their banes 

Like she of Endor, came, Air, Water, Fire 

Questioning and what they demanded they 



IN HELL. 345 

Would not by Nature be denied, when 

They were — like treasure hunters who the Seal 

Of Solomon or the astrologists 1090 

Old Kosicrusian tomes consult to find 

By the conjunctive planets some weird spell 

Not finding, they : then all the three they sore 

Tortur'd to tell what had possess'd them ; one — 

More than one thousand years her age she told, 

From out her paps upon the altar squeezed 

A milk so acrid that it eat right through 

The adamant ; the curd this was of food 

As none but she enjoy 'd, in secret pit 

Close to a temple genitals and brains 1100 

They flung of still-born children, viriles old 

Of men and women, capricorns and bulls, 

These with toadstools for centuries alone 

She eat, and only of the few thick drops 

Express'd from broken hearts assuag'd her thirst ; 

She first-tormentor treating them like sores 

Embodied, as a village doctress treats 

A cancer that defies her : fury worse 

Than Calcabrina's theirs others there were 

Who follow'd, creatures unto skeletons 1110 

Worn like Megacra Acheron produced ; 

Some used the ordures poison'd whether those 



346 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Which work eruption'd from the globe relax'd 
With slime defecated, or worse from brutes 
Dying the foetid product of their young. 

Thus were they occupied nine thousand they 
Hideous their names as persons : Shraphryth, Oom, 
Hollos, Frank, Scrematry, Adsch, Na, Troumdell 
And Nashmurdrand o'er all : then Shraphryth a 
Crook-back'd arose, " I saw a star as, black," 1120 

Said he, "as others bright earthward dissolve." 

" All know," Scrematry said " what Noe, son 
Of Lamech prophesieth." 

" Six score years," 
Added Hollos, " and more that same is preached." 

" His ark is filled with the domestic beasts 
Ready to float with flood," Nashmurdrand joined. 

Whilst these they told the air grown dense mankind 
And all the giants to that central fane 
Seek choking ; from the north, east, south and west 
They come on fleetest dromedaries, some [1130 

On rapid coursers : then from out the sea 
A stifling vapour crept and drove the brutes 
Upon the rear of the assembling world; — 
Behind the last the sloths huge as are now 
Big elephants (their bones to us remain,) 
Urging from the circumference send in 



IN HELL. 347 

Disorder, tribe on tribe crushing the one 

The other soon the universal whole 

Tumultuous labour stormy to and fro, 1140 

The agitation unto violence grows, 

The megatheria and others rush 

With angry snort their predeceders o'er 

And brutes of blood feline wide open mouthed 

A torrent roar, so multitudes down-trod 

Imploring shouts raising contention make, 

Then prematurely soon the sun he set : 

No moon arose, no star ; a meteor blue 

Irregularly flashing through the dark 

Swum. 1150 

Then the Rephaims to the council came 
Enquiring, they to Lucifer in turn 
With iteration through the tedious night 
'Till dawn'd the day — if day it may be called, 
And in the north a comet dread to see 
Hast'ning ; then the star-gazers all their rules 
And tables brought, and what his motion was, 
His altitude and declination, law 
Assign'd sure calculating to the last 
Infinitessimal for what they called 1 l(>0 

Affection : at the noon the sickly sun 



348 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Gone down with that mix'd meteor the night 
Again began. 

The wizards now resort 
Unto their orgies and blaspheming rites, 
And with collective force their wither'd hands 
With incantations flung the comet drew, 
Whilst some by madness driven unto the shrine 
Of Zamiel rush, — these when the leaders see 
With rage possest upon them falling some 1170 

The brains dash out, others they throttle, some 
In twain they rend and spattering outcast, 
Thus devastated they as long the third 
Craped sun endur'd — not long. 

A sock or sigh 
From out the ocean came, the water-sprites 
Wond'ring the how, and Earth advent'ring forth 
From the deep bottom to his fane made haste 
And whisper'd Lucifer, " Didst thou hear that?" 
More wrinkled she than the Cumsean who 1180 

Brought Tarquin books the Arch-condemner caught 
And crush'd Earth so unto his chest that out 
She shriek'd and from her womb Beelzebub 
Upon the altar fell ; that aged crone 
First saw and, boldest, cried, " A god ! a god ! " 



IN HELL. 349 

With that he seiz'd her in his freckled paws 

And brought her to his mouth ; the gastrics, the 

Saliva from the all-abounding glands 

Her soon enchyl'd but in her skull a gem 

Like to a toad's was found which up he cast 1190 

As indigestible ; with frantic joy 

That all the sorc'rers seize, and with the charm 

Spend o'er their rituals the third long night. 

Now when the sun appear'd in gleer mankind 

Were painted with the units better done. 

Towards the fifth more dismal day whilst yet 
The fires beneath the sacrifices smoked 
The ocean belching shed uncounted crabs 
Hideous : when the sun the zenith reached 
The sorc'rers join'd unto the Rephaims called 1200 

Imperiously, he stopp'd — the earth as short 
And thereupon a high and angry wave — 
Shock-broken though it was by cunning spells 
And counter-forces from the planets won, 
Impulsive flow'd : a common heap after 
They gathered of dead and in the midst 
Fire-generating-Beelzebub — enthroned, 
Shower'd sparks afar. 

Then Shreesh a heart tore out 
And eat, " The cursed earth is nigh an end," 1210 



350 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Cried she, and hurrying to her call there came 

From out an adytum of which she long 

As the chief-priestess kept the guarding key 

(The doors flung open,) monsters flesh and blood 

Nor man nor brute, nor spirit gender'd but 

Of all through all the triune opposites 

To reptiles e'en and fishes, corm 'rants, bats 

Uglier than the Manillan, Strypian ouphs, 

Hybrids descriptionless, and devils damned 

On mares begotten, lynxes, unicorns, 1 220 

And lionesses, beasts that marshes haunt ; 

And some had web-like hands, and talons, nails, 

Some leprous pats from the chelonians got, 

Club-footed some whilst some the hoof divide 

From two proceeding on to twelve rank claws, 

And some there were preponderated men 

Like men they spoke their parts inferior grown 

Whether to scales or plumes pinnated both, 

Or terminating in a draco's base ; 

And there were elephant-begotten, and 1230 

Of camelopardes, and behemoth 

"Which at the bottoms of deep rivers live, 

Crustaceans too the heads of women joined 

Into their dermals yet with bearded chins 

And language like a man's, and gelid shapes 



IN HELL. 351 

As half humane tentaculars for arms 

The mouth the only fundamental vent ; 

And green, and speckled, yellow, black, and red ; 

And up themselves they toss'd, and down they tossed, [1240 

Bray'd, squeak'd, and yell'd, and mov'd, and mop'd, and 

And other ictions odd to see and hear [manned, 

Never conceiv'd : and these would prey, mankind 

Selecting some the old, the tender young 

Others, some male, some female, some affect 

The brown, the fair, the tall, the short such crooked 

Caprices were indulg'd ; and one — a snake 

With a most lovely face and fleecy hair 

Like Berenice's, nursling she would have, 

One at the mother's breast, — embracing both 

Curling around with gusto then she laved 1250 

Her lips in their warm blood the flesh reject'd : 

And some there were who feasting made on apes, 

Obscene baboons, lemurs, and such vile broods 

As evets have with stings and prickles full, 

And some putridities most noisome eat. 

Then all the wizards expedited — round 
Close ringing, and with voice as with the sun 
They fix'd the comet in impetuous course 
So that the tail recalcitrating swung 
Reaching the earth and it so surely swept 1260 



352 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

With dankest danger that mankind looked 
For fear they died, but yet they died not. 

Then 
In a disorder'd train as if with grief 
Or worse stung all the Sins of all the world 
Appear'd innumerable, all the lights 
Extinguishing with their unhallowed hands : 
So when the excommunicated go 
To Tophet all the tapers are put out ; 
But Earth pride-swollen still amongst them rushed 1270 
With all the witches to arrest that work 
But it was done, and up the spectrals passed 
Like swamp-born meteors ; soon as e'er they reached 
The middle air collapsing down they fell 
A shower of flesh and blood on all below. 

Then one rush'd forward in the garish which 
Came forth of that great temple, others eke, 
Upon the sorcerers they fall, their things 
Unholy, smoking censors, cauldrons, spats, 
Prongs, shovels, glassy masks — protective from 1280 
The aura they would oft from neither light 
Of sun nor moon distil, down these they dash 
And up the tow'ring tiers of steps the vast 
Wide measur'd portals reach : then Lucifer 
Call'd the incarnate fiends ! from land, from sea, 



IN HELL. 353 

Above, beneath they hungry slaught'ring came 

So, then thought he as Chaos in the heaven 

For us did lose now sure he comes to gain 

A lesser battle ; Chaos was ! that star 

Reported was himself in search of Night 1290 

Eemember'd well ; that day when God lit up 

External heaven surviv'd : what thought he thought 

Was all for his co-mate, her loss he cursed 

Inconsolable ; soon therefore as he 

Might course at choice he cours'd the voidy blank 

Searching and in his range falling on hell 

Found it in uproar ; but one guarded there 

Of whom too well he knew T Th' Undying Worm 

Swoln out to full proportion upon man 

Grown monstrously millions to him by Sin 1300 

And Death deliver'd ; unto Chaos he 

Swore Night he knew not of: a meteor thence 

Wing'd Chaos 'till the system of this globe 

Made, in a gen'ral fog he all o'erspread ; 

He utter'd those same socks w T hich Earth alarmed. 

And when she fell, from that portentous star — 

Which was his real Cyclopean eye he saw 

The devil squeezed forth ; but when they came 

The Adamites and Rephadms on their chiefs 

And the carnivora upon them all 1310 



354 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

More jealous still as apprehensive that 

Another all inspir'd better than he 

Could hope t' inspire them, then his singulars 

Collecting down upon the apex he 

Came with concussion so tremendous that 

The deeps that God himself had barr'd were burst 

And out the waters won ; nor stopp'd he there 

As up th' abysmals leap'd down, down again 

In all his ponderosity he drove 

Upon the drowning races whilst from heaven 1320 

His latencies in rainy torrents fall 

Circumfluent over all a pluvial shroud. 

Thus on the earth delugal vengeance came, 
And all the fTrmarnental clouds dissolved 
Nor intermitted ; forty days were told 
As through the liquid pall the sun appeared 
Apparent in his course, and forty nights 
The rains in cataracts continual come 
Upon the earth ; then all the rising hills — 
The hills were cover'd and the mountain heights, 1330 
And all flesh died that on the earth had moved 
Of fowl, of cattle, beast, and creeping thing, 
And every man in whom the breath of life 
Was to his nostril died; — but one remained 
The righteous Noe, son of Lantech, son 



IN HELL. 355 

Of old Mathusalah, of Henoch (him 

Who walk'd with God,) the son, that Henoch son 

Of Jared, son of Malaleel, the son 

Of Cainan, son of Enos, he the son 

Of Seth appointed in good Abel's stead 1340 

Whom Cain had smote : with Noe too his wife, 

His sons, their wives, and all with them they took 

Of every living thing appoint of God. 



A A 



THE WARS OF JEHOVAH. 



BOOK VIII. 



THE ARGUMENT. 

God's covenant with Noe, his folly and curse of Cham. The general 
history of mankind unto the advent of The Messiah whom Lucifer 
confronts. Lucifer's return to Hell. The Temptation, and death of 
our Blessed Lord. 

Time : the seventh and part of the eighth day. 



BOOK VIII. 



Like dreamer through whose fervid brain is chased 

An evil spirit to the realms beyond 

The precincts of his being doubtful long 

Whether the narrow isthmus upon which 

He stands be earth and the good angel his 

Discern'd returning, I — the whilst I plunged 

So long in shades historic doubting all 

Therein contain'd and horrified at all 

I found save Thee before invok'd constant 

Keligion! poring o'er thy Book of books 10 

Our certain safeguard, safer than the clue 

Minos's daughter to her lover gave 

When in the labyrinth the minotaur 

He sought and khTd : if unto mortal sight 



360 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The mystery of heaven, of earth, and hell 

I bravely charge to thee I grateful raise 

The voice my patroness ! such space we drag 

The dragon forth to day and in the light 

Stab mortal ; and if yet immortal he 

Live on his wounds shall incapacitate 20 

Him much and my example others urge, 

Numbers repriev'd from his devouring jaws : 

Terrible this, long time the ends of earth 

Paying tribute of their best to satiate 

His appetite, so propagating death 

And woe throughout all generations that 

Come unto this the Holy Spirit grieved 

Past utt'rance is retir'd as thou hast shown : 

Thus from the heavenly heights Jehovah hurled 

Him and his hosts and man creating if 30 

Pervert by whom % So as in heaven the earth, 

Plausible, change this Arch-advent'rer wrought, 

And what is man ] who dareth question make 

Of him whom all the hierarchies serve 

Adoring ; evil is not surely by 

Device of God ; the Holy Spirit ask 

O sceptic ! why permitted % He shall show 

Thee all things, this that hence Jehovah shines 

The brighter in The Son : — -hail Thou ! who mad'st 



IN HELL. 361 

The heavens, the earth, and in the flesh descended'st 40 

For our salvation ; now within me burns 

My heart whilst upward Faith directing, lo ! 

Spangled with countless stars Thy Throne, O God ! 

Thy servant seeth, the blue infinity 

Vaulted with the similitude of Wings 

We celebrated quivering o'er the world ; 

O cherubim, O seraphim, and all 

Ye finitudes of heavenly time and space 

Continually worshipping the highest, 

All ye bright angels that confess Him King ! 50 

Although immeasurably far exiled 

From the expression of His Imag'd Light 

God's Excellency I on earth as ye 

In the Elysium devout adore. 

Thus all the aqueous humours met conjunct 
Drowning the world, the sanctities on high 
Pale with surprise around th' Eternal Throne 
Collecting, save the guardians gracious God 
Appointed unto Noe in armoury 

Of shield and mail and spear if any fiend 60 

Or all attack' d him now so rash were they 
Successful thus so far, expatiating 
Over the waters a triumphant crew, 
And chiefly him the dread degen'rate Prince. 



362 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

God's great Abhorrer, he advent'ring sought 

That latest hope of the lost world to whelm 

Irrevocable ; proud, alone, with rage 

Prodigious on swept he tornadoes in 

His fiery path : so a black cloud drives blank 

'Gainst perpendicular mountains — broken down TO 

Thund'ring and lightning ; Lucifer confus'd 

Fusing to fires intolerably bright, 

Vomiting smoke such match was his though no 

Archangel, nor Jehovah (bless'd His Name,) 

But One co-equal, co-eternal, Son 

Of very God to him unknown, nor then 

Seen but with an immedicable wound 

Encounter'd and such shock he inward groaned 

In spirit, fleeing, how no notice needs 

Nor whither — in his wake his potent fiends 80 

Shudd'ring : so 'cross the Steppes the Turcomans 

Before a Christian Power, a battle gained 

Over their bashaw — the incredlous chief 

Best-mounted foremost ; or stark cannibals 

West Indian conquer'd : stretch of wing was his 

As ne'er before, nor that enow his want 

Craving to meet ; Death to the bottoms sought 

Where lay the Nephilim interr'd alive 

Under the cumbent waters thunderstruck : 



IN HELL. 363 

Chaos behind the last all his thick lips 90 

With'ring : so black snow-storms driven afar 
South from high Himmala the red simoon 
Melts. 

Then the deeps were stopp'd, the rain restrained, 
The waters they decreas'd continually 
And Ararat appear'd, floating thereby 
A perfect ark divinely plann'd by Him 
Who fram'd the worlds : when forty days were gone 
A window oped and forth came out a bird, 
To him inquiringly a dove succeeds; 100 

Again, seven days full gone she wings abroad 
Such time as the renew'd and glorious sun 
Meridional shone ; yet other seven 
Days were elaps'd when the third time came forth 
Earth dried. 

Then Noe went, with him his sons, 
Their wives, and every beast and thing aforth 
Building an altar ; not as is described 
In mythos of Deucalion asking grace 
With Pyrrha of one Themis; Noe took 110 

Burnt off'ring to the Lord : Jehovah smell 
Accepting said, " Whilst earth remaineth seed 
And harvest- times, cold, heat, and day and night 
Shall cease not." And Jehovah blessed Noe, 



364 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

His sons and said, " Be fruitful, multiply, 

And fill the earth, and I, behold I make 

With you a covenant, no more shall flood 

Destroy you, this the token ; " in the heaven 

Above the mountains there appear'd an Arch 

Upbuilt from the horizon colour'd bright 120 

A shining Iris; " This the sign shall be," 

Said God and Noe bowing to the ground 

Call'd all his congregation and from thence 

Departing in the plains they pitch'd their tents. 

Long time in this sojourn like paradise 
If not so primitive yet fairer far 
Than any plot Pomona owns this day, 
Or any his to the anemone turned — 
Recall'd for the disconsolated quean, 
Or where umbrageous figs in Deccan spread 130 

High-pillar'd roofs, long while with such slight toil 
As serves the day and sanctifies the even 
That family admonish'd, angels oft 
Upon the slanting sunbeams gliding down 
On wings of gladness borne with speed along 
As once to Eden from their skiey court : 
This was the age which Ovid — following Writ, 
Calls golden, unto him of Shinaar shown 
In image with the honour'd head of gold, 



IX HELL. 365 

With ill-join" d feet : for though her flowers to seed 140 

Still ran and Earth was solemn like one rose — 

Like Jairus's fair daughter Cidli from 

The dead, yet often Earth would sweetly smile 

Relating to her tut'lars how forlorn 

She felt when one after the ling ring other 

Amono-st them left 'till all, alas ! were °-one 

Into the heavens ; and how the rebels sought 

And gain'd her graces ; " O how I abhorred 

Myself the while.'" said she. "for though of heaven 

I knew they were yet well I also knew 150 

From hell they came to rifle me, for what ? 

I shudder ; " then she wept so many tears 

Inconsolable "till the blessed Bow 

Appear"d to comfort her. and so resumed 

Telling how that Corruption with the rage 

Of famine, full of want against her gnashed 

The teeth when One — no angel, drove him back 

And turn'd her eyes unto the pearly gate 

Of "Judah" whence they came, " And O! that gate" 

Cried she, " I plainly saw from Eden 'till 160 

The latest guardian parted from my side 

And left me to myself: " thus Earth, again 

Renascent she. 

Now husbandmen were they, 



366 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And when autumnal mists prevail'd the grapes 

Gath'ring from out the vineyard to the sieve 

Consigned what with those the dews they'd caught 

And humid airs fermenting come to wine 

Noe he tasted and therewith full pleased 

Immoderately drank : O wiser he 170 

The Thracian king who by the roots uptore 

The vines from his dominions ; fatal draught ! 

More than the Maronean, or those draughts 

Delicious Messalina mixing, or 

Macrinus those who — ignorant, quaff 'd were 

Poison'd, or that which Sisera of Jael 

Unthinking took when he from Baruk fled, 

These lost the life, but honour still more dear 

Unthinking Noe for his younger son 

His nakedness perceiv'd: when Noe awoke 180 

He curs'd him saying, " Servant let Cham be 

Of servants to his brethren." 

Then went Cham 
Forth with his eldest Chus ; Mesraim and Phuth, 
And Chanaan ; Saba, Hevila — the sons 
Of Chus ; and Sabtah, Regma, Sabtechah 
And Regma's sons : to Chus was Nemrod who 
The first from worship of the Living God 
Estray'd and fell ; a man of might renowned 



IN HELL. 367 

He was and rul'd from Babylon unto 190 

Arach and Achad south, Chalanne the west, 

Four cities strong entrench'd and wall'd about 

But Babel most : and thence went Assur forth 

Erecting Nineve, Chale, Resen, 

And Rehoboth. Mesraim to him was On, 

Sais, Memphis and the cities of the Nile. 

The Phethrusim and Chasluhim they spread 

The whole sea-coast along ; and Chanaan held 

From Sidon unto Gaza, Lesa to. 

Lebahim, Naphtuhim went forth to west, 200 

Ananim east, the Teinans, Lybians theirs. 

To Sem are all the Ebers ; Eber got 
Phaleg and Jectan, these their dwelling had 
From Messa to that mountain Sehar called. 

To Japhet, Gomer, Magog, Madai, 
Javan, Thubal, Mosoch, and Thiras : sons 
Had Gomer Ascenaz, Rephath, Thogarm. 
Javan Elisa, Tharshish, Chettim and 
Dodonim ; all the Isles they held. But some 
Were usurpations: Nemrod his obtained 2t0 

From Sem by force of numbers; "Go!" said he, 
" Go let us build a tower — a temple high 
Where we will honour whom we honour will," 
Then to that work they set ; lo ! where this day 



36$ THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

On Sennaar's plain the Mulijebe lies 

Mountainous ruin : whilst the builders wrought 

Euphrates from his wonted river-bed 

Driven by a furious wind statues of gold 

Therein were found upon the grandest graven 

" Typhon! our King, Conservator, and Lord." — 220 

This with solemnity a god they called 

Placing it in the yet unfinish'd fane, 

But some from that dissented, many thought 

The total idols to erect, thus fierce 

Arguing together off to build they left 

And scattering abroad, in his old age 

Nemrod's state-politic to pieces fell. 

Now these the generations are of Sem 
Arphaxad, Sala, Heber, Phaleg, Eeu, 
Sarug, and Nachor. Terah who begot 230 

The faithful Abram ; unto him the Lord 
Had said, " From out thy Land thy kindred go, 
In thee the kingdoms of the earth are blessed." 

Now his descendants in the course of time 
Were sore oppress'd in Egypt, to Taphne, 
Athos, Isis, Serapis, Anubis, 
Thoth, Cynocephalus, Osiris their 
False goddesses and gods with various shapes 
Of hawks, and crocodiles, cats, monkeys, bulls, 



IN HELL. 369 

Building : then Moses rose and Israel called 240 

Together ; unto Pharoa present come 

His brother Aaron on the ground his rod 

Casting it turn'd a serpent, others cast 

Their rods of divination and they turned 

But Aaron's swallow'd all : then Moses smote 

To blood the waters, this did Jambres too : 

Then frogs came up, this Jannes he performed : 

Next Aaron stretch'd and dust in man and beast 

To insects grew ; this the magicians tried 

In vain to do : then grievous swarm of flies 250 

Arose ; and on the morrow all their beasts 

Died ; boil and blain too came, and hail and fire 

Smote all the Land save Goshen : next there came 

The plague of locusts ; darkness next three days : 

Then all the first-born fell, unto the throne 

E'en from the dungeon, and at midnight cry 

Mighty was heard proud Pharoa crying, " Go! 

From these my people Israel begone!" 

So spoiling the ^Egyptians, Joseph's bones [260 

Took, they to Succoth journey'd. Thence they camped 

In Etham on the wilderness, a Cloud 

From heaven by day and pillar'd Fire by night 

Guiding them on : then Pharoa ready made 

His chariot and in arms pursued unto 

B B 



370 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Phihairoth the sea beside, but o'er 

The waters Moses stretched his hand and by 

A strong and burning wind dividing right 

And left with Israel pass'd ; th' ^Egyptians haste 

After, but in the watch of morn God looked 

From out that Cloud upon them, and the sea 270 

Returning back Busiris was o'erthrown. 

Thence to the wilderness of Sur, and thence 

To Mara, Elim, thence to Sin where God 

Cover'd the camp with quails and manna rained. 

In Raphidim they pitch'd where Amalek 

"Was sore discomfited ; "Write!" said the Lord, 

" For I of Amalec remembrance will 

Put utter out ; from generation I 

To generation war with him will have." 

Thence next in Sinai o'er against the Mount 280 

And there in thunder, lightning, and in cloud, 

With trump so that it quak'd and smok'd the Lord 

Commandments gave ; and then as Moses went 

Into the tabernacle, then the Lord 

Talk'd with him as a friend, and Moses said 

" Thy glory let me see ; " Jehovah, " I 

Let Glory pass before thee but My Face 

No man can see." 

To Pharan next, lusting 



IN HELL. 371 

'Mongst them burnt fire at Taberah, and plague 290 

At Kibroth-Hattavah : from Hazeroth 

And Pharan they saw Canaan : thence to Zin, 

Thence Kadesh, and upon mount Hor beside 

Edom died Aaron. 

Arad they destroyed 
And all his cities ; then were serpents sent 
Because they murmur'd. In Oboth they pitched 
In Ije-ab'rim, Zared next, and thence 
In Arnon wherefore it is said, " Behold ! 
What God in the Red Sea and in the brooks 300 

Of Arnon did, and in the stream that goeth 
Down to the dwelling Ar lying upon 
Moab." 

Thence unto Beer, to Mattana, 
Mahaliel, Banoth, and at Jasa 
Fought Sehon and was smit : the Amorites 
From Jazer they drove out, and Og the king 
Of Basan slew. 

Baal-peor be named, 
The plains of Moab : " 'Venge the Lord ! avenge 310 
Of Midian," and they smote the kings Evi, 
Eecem, Sur, Rebe, Hur, and Balaam put 
Unto the sword. 

Then to the mount Nebo 
b b 2 



372 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Went Moses, to the top of Phasgo, o'er 

'Gainst Jericho and died. Then spake the Lord 

To Joshua, "Rise!" and Joshua arose 

Bringing the Ark of Covenant the Lord 

And Israel between to Jordan (whence 

O Ocean-Empress thy most princely heir 320 

Receiv'd baptism,) and when those who bare 

Dipp'd in the waters they heap'd back, so all 

Pass'd ; in Gilgal are the memorial stones : 

Then Joshua took the Land, the hills, the south, 

Goshen, vale, plain, and mount, and valley to 

Mount Halak going to Seir and Baal-gad. 

Joshua dying Judah succeeded, — he 
In Bezek fought, Jerusalem he took. 
Then rose a generation who from God 
To Baal turn'd, and Ashtaroth ; Othniel 330 

Arose, and Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah 
The prophetess, and Gideon after him 
Abimeleck to whom an evil Spirit 
Coming he died : Toba, and Jair, Tola 
Succeed, and then to Bethlehem- Judah came 
With one Naomi, Ruth a convert whom 
Boaz wedded. 

Next Jair was judge, Jephtha, 
Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Sampson who loved 



IN HELL. 373 

And suffer'd for Delilah ; Eli next : 340 

Then Samuel arose, of him they asked 

A king, and he anointed Saul who fought 

And Am alec subdued but Agag spared : 

He of the witch requested, " Bring the dead," 

She crying loud exclaim'd " I gods behold 

Ascending from the earth, one cometh up 

Cloth'd with a mantle ; " then said he to Saul 

" Why hast thou me disquieted to raise V 

Next David reigned in Hebron, afterwards 
O'er Israel in Jerus'lem ; Solomon 350 

Succeeding : now from Tyre Hiram the king 
His envoys sent and Solomon return'd, 
" Thou Hiram knowest that our father meant 
Unto the Lord his God an house to build 
And thou command ; " thus was the temple built, 
And all the elders, heads of tribes, and priests, 
And people brought the tabernacle and 
The Ark into the Holy place, the Lord 
Filling it with his glory ; yet this king 
To Milcomb the abomination of 360 

Ammon, and Chemosh Moab's, and unto 
Moloch bow'd down. 

Then Rehoboam reigned 
The kingdom split ; and Jeroboam set 



374 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

In Dan and Bethel calves calling them gods, 
High places too Jerusalem profaned 
And groves on every hill, so Shiskah spoiled 
Them for the sin. 

Next Rehoboam reigned, 
Nadab, Asa, Jehosaphat, Baasha, 370 

And Elah slain by Zimri who seven days 
Only maintain'd the throne : Ornri succeeds, 
Ahaz, and Ahaziah, Jehoram, 
Joram — (Elisha in his time rais'd up 
The Shunamite her son,) then reign'd Jehu, 
Next Ahaziah, Jehoaz, and next 
Athalia — slain, Jehoash, Amaziah, 
Azariah, Jeroboam, Zachariah, 
Shallum one month, Menahem, Pekahiah, 
And Pekah in whose reign Assyria led 380 

Them captive. 

Over Judah Jotham, and 
Ahaz : Hosea Shalmaneser served, 
For then the Lord rejected Israel, they 
Had sinn'd against Him, covenants despised, 
And idols worshipp'd with the shining hosts 
Of heaven, and through the fire their children passed, 
Used divinations and enchantments, sold 
Themselves to evil in His holy sight, 



IN HELL. 375 

Therefore remov'd they were not one was left 390 

Save Judah only ; men from Babel brought, 
From Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, Sepharvaim 
Filled their cities. 

Then Sennacherib 
'Gainst Hezekiah warr'd, but he returned 
In shame to Nineve. Manasseh next, 
Amon, Josiah who the idols brake, 
Their groves and altars and their priests put down, 
Denied Tophet, and the bones of men 
From out the sepulchres at Bethel burned ; 400 

Moreover those that with familiars worked 
The wizards and the Teraphim he put 
Away as most abominable. 

Next 
Jehoahaz, and Eliakim named 
By Pharoa-necho : Jehoiakim went 
Captive to Babylon and in his stead 
Reign'd Mattaniah in whose day was broke 
Jerusalem ; the temple of the Lord, 
And every house and all the walls were razed: 410 

So Judah captive was, carried away 
Full threescore years and ten. 

The Persian thou 



376 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Proclaim'd, " The Lord of heaven to me hath given 

All kingdoms of the earth, and He hath charged 

That at Jerusalem an house be built 

Unto Him ; who amongst you Judah ! will, 

Go, build, your God be with you: let them go." 

Then rose the chiefs of Judah, Benjamin, 

The priests and Levites, and with them all those 420 

Whose spirit God had rais'd, these strengthen'd were 

With precious things, the vessels of the Lord — 

Which to his gods Nebuchadnezzar gave, 

Chargers of gold and silver, ornate knives, 

Basins, and vases Cyrus all restored, 

So up went they and to the temple set. 

Jeshua rul'd, Jehoiakim, and next 
The bad Eliashib, Judas, then John 
Who in the sacred court his brother killed ; 
Jaddus came next : but Misraim them oppressed 430 
Also the Syrians when iEgypt failed 
Until Antiochus the sanctuary 
Polluted : then the Maccabees arose — 
King Aristobulus, to him succeeds 
Next Alexander, then Salome, next 
Proud Aristobulus : Roma aroused 
Great Pompey took Jerusalem, profaned 



IN HELL. 377 

The oft-profaned temple and reduced 

Judah to servitude, but in the end 

Herod the Edomite arose and reigned. 440 

Thus were the prophets whom Jehovah sent 
(They persecuted all and many slew,) 
Most righteously aveng'd from Moses down, 
Asaph and Samuel, and Shemiah, and 
Iddo, Ahijah, Azariah, and 
Jehu, Hanani, and Elijah — caught 
Up into heaven ; Elisha, Joel, and 
Hosea, Amos, Michajah, and him 
Who prophesied of Edom ; Obadiah, 
Habakkuk, Jonah, and Isaiah 450 

Invoking heaven and earth to give his words 
An ear ; Michah, Haggai, Malachi, 
Nahum, and he who lamentation made 
44 O ! that mine head were waters and mine eyes 
Fountains of tears that I both day and night 
Might weep for this my people ; " Daniel, and 
Ezekiel, Zachary, and Zephaniah. 

Elsewhere mankind were equally corrupt, 
Assyria wide had stretch'd her lusty arms 
North to Armenia, east unto the Mede 4oO 

The Perse, and even unto Ind she reached ; 
This symbolizing God square altars cut, 



378 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Fire from the sun enkindled and adored 

Mithras the great light-giver : then magi 

Eastward arose who thought in stars they saw 

Other divinities and — passing from 

The abstract, taught Belus — ador'd upon 

The tower which Nemrod built ; from that great height 

Watching, or in Chaldee the cloudless skies, 

The constellations they as gods bespoke 470 

As Peri — beautiful and excellent, 

Caherman — the resemblance in the fire, 

And Tahmuraz — the change, or Ahriman 

The sender, Oramuz concealer, with 

The Demruth-dive outcast of fulgent heaven ; 

To these she hew'd her pillars, victims brought, 

Mingled her wines, and paid her foolish voavs 

Believing ; the diviners of the spheres, 

Star-gazers, aged seers, her bed of power 

So decking with fine linen, tapestry, 480 

And others that to her the Nations sought 

Her head a harlot lift : beside all these 

Were Succoth-benoth — representee shrines 

Of astral forms, Nergal — the circle, and 

Gilgal, Ashimah, Tartac, and the gods 

Of Sepharvaim : Ninus o'er them ruled, 

Semiramis, and Sardanapalus 



IN HELL. 379 

The last : against the rampant lion with 

Great eagle wings Arbaces warr'd and won ; 

And thence three kingdoms came, the Median 490 

And those which Nineve and Babel still 

Own'd for their capitals : Cyaxares 

Joining Nabopolassar Nineve 

O'erthrew. Then Evil-merodoch, and next 

Neriglissar, Laborosoarchod, 

Belshazzar last the Babylonians ruled, 

Famous is he for God's handwriting o'er 

The candlestick upon the wall observed, 

His count'nance chang'd, troubled his thoughts; the joints 

Even of his loins were loosen'd, and his knees 500 

Smote one another. Then the Medians with 

The Perse allied and Lydia, unto 

Darius fallen iEgyptia all the false 

Gods met ; above them all — the prophet paints, 

A raging bear three ribs within his teeth 

Was Chosroes god. 

Then Japetus sprung up 
In younger Amnion Macedonian born, 
His symbol was a leopard with four heads 
Four wings unto him representing Perse 510 

Assyrian, Mede, and Grsecian over whom 
He sate enthron'd : this the false worship brought 



380 



THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 



Of gods made human gross and bestial some ; 

With oracles ambiguous, Pharmacus, 

And from the covert caves Trophonian 

And Eleusina ; Helios he brought, 

Autopsia, Demiurgus, Cneph — the winged, 

And him of Khamnes, with the routous mob 

That follow'd the Napeans liquor-mad, 

Transforming those who saw to beasts or worse 520 

Fiends like themselves ; and some infernals were 

Furies gaunt-blue, wrath-throed shades, of whom 

Dramatic authors wrote : some of the sea 

Troops which our credulous have mermaids called : 

Japetus feign'd the muses, not O thou 

Mnemosyne ! their mother heretofore 

Invok'd nor vain, nor thee Urania, nor 

Calliope I call, far other Spring 

Is yours and Mount than Cytheron, more famed 

Than the Phocean, but the muses which 530 

Hesiod and Pindar sung, and those playwrights 

With mask of Thalia or the tragic, draw, 

Theocritus, Euripides, ^Eschyle, 

Or Aristophanes : Religion ! Faith ! 

Bear witness none like these our sacred task 

Affect. 

Then came the Itoman to the clang 



IN HELL. 381 

Of arms invincible ; no banner his 

By princesses within their harems wrought 

In the cool evening by soft purling founts 540 

To dulcet symphonies, poetic sounds. 

And incens'd airs that paradise might blow, 

But his was pictur'd terrible a beast 

Exceeding strong with iron teeth with which 

Devouring he in pieces brake and stamped 

The residue beneath his feet ; ten horns 

Were his and all the world unto him fell. 

Kings too had been Phoenician, Ehodian, and 
Kings on the Coasts : the Shepherd-kings had ruled 
Amenophis in line ; Memnon that fane 550 

At Elephanta rear'd : great Ecbatan 
Dejoces built his capital; Phraote 
Succeeding then Cyaxares, and him 
Ahasuerus grandsire unto one 
That conquer'd Croesus — he to Sardis fled 
Another capital city, — Tomyris 
The Lydian aveng'd. Beyond where Ind 
Or Ganges roll their empires yet survive 
The lapse of ages, Ava, the Chinese; 
Whilst history King Evechous records, 560 

Calca, and Crete, and Alba-longa where 
Sylvanus rul'd ; great polities there were 



382 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

From Barbary unto the Guinea-gulf, 
And thence below the tropic, and beyond 
The wide Atlantic where the Laurence now, 
The Mississippi, or La Plata sweep, 
All rul'd by khans, and emperors, moguls, 
Or kings, czars, sultauns, yncas, noble heads 
Boasting the idols shown. 

Thus was the world 570 
From unity of faith together gone, 
Philosophy at its meridian scarce 
One feeble ray emitting ; dialect 
At Athens, the fortuitous concourse 
Of atoms by Democritus she taught, 
At Rome the genius of Cicero 

Could nothing add ; truth she pronounc'd was quite — 
Quite unattainable, and virtue quite 
Impracticable, all the world from out 
The chalices of Epicurus drunk : 580 

Unbridled the licentiousness to Vice — 
Enshrin'd in their recesses, all the throng 
Sapient made haste to cede the temples of 
Religion : under sorcery of Sense 
Sense guided all the world, the blind the blind 
Leading into the ditch, secular games 
In honour to th' Infernals oft observed 



IN HELL. 383 

That left the Saturnalia far behind : 

They knew not God, see Socrates they call 

The wisest sacrificing ; Plato sought 590 

And what he found describ'd so ill or well 

His clients even now the question ask 

What is it 1 Aristotle reason'd dry 

Of nat'rals in a square following the eye — 

As some yet follow who through outward things 

Can nothing concrete catch ; Pythagoras 

For his metempsychosis Ennius had 

To verify that once a chanticleer 

He really was • and Aristippus — still 

Amongst the libertines a famous name : 600 

Draco gave laws, and if they Solon boast 

For that he made approximation to 

God's pandects promulgated centuries 

Before from Oreb, — kings therein shall find 

Their copy, and their subjects what their rule. 

Senates instruction, magistrates command, 

Witnesses warning ; there the jury are 

Requir'd to give true verdict, and the judge 

Is furnish'd with the sentence; weddings there 

Alone are well directed, as the lord 610 

The husband, as the mistress o'er the house 

The wife divinely set, how'? both are taught, 



384 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And what of their first-born ; for burials 

They order, and the orphans introduce 

Unto a heavenly father ; they detect 

All error, and can make the foolish wise : 

"What record like Bereashith \ what book 

Hath so sublime beginning ] from the cares 

Of government unbending unto that 

The Grsecian sage in Tadmor turn'd as the 620 

Most perfect ; here antiquities ! events 

Most wonderful ! and so of others which 

Record the wars unparallel'd, O Queen ! 

Inspir'd we chaunt, or of heroic deeds : 

The Bible ! Book of books to mvsteries 

Profound, for doctors the directory, 

Galen therein were exercis'd, the best 

Arithmeticians and astronomers ; 

And here mechanics, artists lessons learn 

Invaluable ; unto ignorant men 630 

Its own interpreter for dictionary 

The Bible stands, authenticated through 

The world ; the Covenant the best that e'er 

Was made ; the Deed that e'er was sign'd ; and the 

Best Testament that ever yet was sealed : 

Nor all the odes through the Olympiads sung 

Compare with those they tun'd on Zion's hill, 



IN HELL. SS5 

The lying sophists tun'd ; and for the rest 

Most famous, what Demosthenes when stripped 

Of his high-sounding words ] or he who wrote 640 

That orator and augur ? who Calcas 

And Mopsus in his equal folly scorned ; 

Nor Livy mourning o'er Lucretia, nor 

Sanconiatho, Lysias, Sallust, 

Quintius Curtius, Tacitus, Plutarch, 

Gellius, Juvenal, Nicander, nor 

Lactantius, Xenophon, Thucydides, 

Apollodorus, Statius, nor yet 

Seneca best of moralists compare 

To our God-gifted : nor their patriots, 650 

Those the most vaunted died for praise of men, 

Others in Jewry died despising that 

For praise of God who seeth in secret though 

Before th' assembled angels he rewards. 

But O ! what pen the matter may indite I 
We now approach : though with archangel's tongue 
I sung, Religion ! what to me by night 
In the still watches when the world 's asleep 
Thou tellest, all my soul therewith entranced 
Rapt up as was th' apostle to the seventh 660 

Recepting heaven, the Holy Spirit in 
His arms embracing me, — though thus I sung, 

c c 



386 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Dipping this plume in firmamental tints 

The purest, such as from some Syrian height 

When vesper warns the young monastic knows 

Scarce how for prayer to sacrifice, and propped 

By Eloa, how infinitely short 

Were all t' express what in the depth of heart 

I feel, and O Thou God Effluent ! know. 

O now the golden string ! Jehovah spake 670 

Of Thee to Adam when guilty he went 

Outcast of Eden, Thee ! Deliv'rer, God 

With man incorp'rate, who the serpent's head 

Should'st crush ; O Thou Restorer ! long (to us,) 

They prophesied that Thou of David's seed 

The flesh according to should'st come : strike high, 

He comes ! He comes ! Messias from the heavens 

(Immac'late) down ; attending seraphs sing 

And Gabriel, who the salutation, " Hail, 

Hail Mary ! and be blest," The Virgin gave, 680 

They sing to sounding dulcimers and lutes, 

" Glory to God on high, she bears The Son, 

Peace, peace on earth ; ye eastern kings adore 

With gifts, adore Him ye who watch'd your flocks 

By night and heard us say, ' good will to men.' ' 

Strike high the lyre ! thy King O Salem ! comes, 
Daughter of Zion ! comely make thy cheeks 



L\ BELL 387 

With rows of jewels, and upon thy neck 

Put chains of gold, borders of gold and studs 

Of silver take unto thee, spikenard, myrrh 690 

Take for thy well-Beloved, so shalt thou 

Be as the carnphire cluster 'midst the vines 

Of sweet En-gedi : better is his love 

Than wine ; he saith. • ; Rise up my love and come, 

For lo ! the winter *s past, the ram is gone, 

The flowers appear, the singing birds — the voice 

Of turtles they are heard, the fig-tree forth 

Putteth green figs, the vines the tender grape ; 

Arise my love ! my fair one come away : 

O my sweet dove ! hid in the rocky clefts. 700 

And sacred stairs, thy count nance let me see. 

And let me hear thy voice for sweet it is, 

Thy count nance comely.'" 

Thou Prince of Peace ! 
Thou Lord of Light and Love ! born very man 
Of the bless'd Virgin, Shiloh ! I have seen 
Thy tear- when first this mortal life thou breathedst. 
And heard that cry as Adam's offspring ciy 
Pain'd at the birth, and all the agony felt 
That smote Thy Wondrous Being when our airs — 71" 
Adulterated gross by sin. Thou drewest 
Thick ning and hurtful to the heavenly lung. 

2 



388 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Muse ! He the Lord of Worlds, the psaltery 
To angels and the souls of the redeemed, 
Return ! Scarce born when at His feet One stood 
Reflecting speechless, nor incontinent 
His eyes like fire, a fire as opposite 
Kindling the Arch-arraigner flash'd confessed 
His arrogants around : thus there the Bane 
Of heaven, of earth confronting God The Son 720 

Was found ; then from the Godhead answer went — 
An answer so tremendous that the fiends 
Precipitately fled ; O Lion of 
The tribe of Judah, hail ! the un withstood 
Lord of the Living Might ! O Adam ! once 
Before the First that Depravated sped — 
But on a diff'rent mission, back to hell, 
Elated with a triumph promising 
A quick return ; and often in the times 
Before the deluge painful check had he 730 

From Seth, Henock and others (which his gain 
But palliated ill,) so that the road 
To hell from earth was beaten, and the gates 
Knew well their owner. Now — if Adam more 
Than Adam and the patriarchs combined 
Together, Christ ; as if a second race 
More than the Nephilim, or those that claimed 



IN HELL. 389 

The gods and goddesses progenitors 

After the Flood, God had His person made 

More than the Anarch's Match, august, divine. 740 

To hell full soon arriv'd to Night and Death 
Made he flaming with rage, rolling his eyes 
So fast that whirlwinds rose about him as 
He hasted through th' innumerable hosts 
That throng'd the passage, who were instant snatched 
Up and discharg'd upon the surging waves 
In which the Adamites lay swelt'ring : so 
With a west wind the plaguing locusts driven 
Into the vex'd Red Sea, his wrinkled waves 
Were loaded ; or when Aquilon the pole 750 

Arctic his barring continents of ice 
Would burst, from the adjoining shores he sweeps 
Rocks, pines, oaks, forests whole, launching them on : 
Over them all his frenzied eyeballs rolled 
Firing their substance through and through until 
Night actual white for fear between them stood 
Harrow'd and rooted ; Outer Darkness fled 
In time before he saw him — felt the fall 
Of his sperm shadow worse than he had felt 
Ever before, great spectres nestled up 760 

Between his warty wings and holding on 
Like two agreeing lupes upon the back 



390 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of a surprised lion grown too old 

To shake them off; or like two reddening fiends 

Upon a lost emaciated soul : 

O first adulterer ! adulteress ! 

Holding Hell's Empery your very names 

"Were then forgotten ; " Hell ! Primordial God 

Pursues ! " cried Lucifer and hardly cried 

When that his leman — recollecting what 770 

Before she suffer'd when His arrowy light 

Drove on her from the gate of heaven, shriek'd out 

So dread that Sin took glut and Death, and both 

Fell : then keen-talon'd creatures — ghastly stern 

Swarthy of hue, by millions came forth 

Out from their frothing mouths, and fought with hands 

Nor them alone but heads and all their parts 

Indescribable ; these had flesh and bone 

Electrum-like and harder than a stone, 

And they so fought that in a moment hell 780 

Around was strown with splinters : — lo ! wild-like 

The crew that Cozener had far outsped, 

With blastful airs ; a refuge there they sought : 

Thus panic-struck the whole ; e'en Terror crouched 

As terroriz'd in turn, and drew his claws 

Retractile in. 

Then one who always had 



IN HELL. 391 

Access presented — Ruin ; at the heel — 

As they were loadstones, Fire-Etern brought up 

Now from a sparry hollow, sparkling ; Woe 790 

From the same endless range, and Mystery ; 

These — like great beasts upon the smell of blood, 

Bellowed, so unbearable it all 

To them appear'd : the olden couch of Space 

Upset, the winding-sheet Infinity 

Bestow'd fell off into the Dip profound 

And never more was seen ; whilst all the Void 

At that dread uproar van'd, but Lucifer — 

Making to Pride a sacrifice of self 

Steeling his heart thrice o'er, his throned seat 800 

Took, seating Night at his right hand : then thus. 

" Gods! gods!" but Night then interposing cried, 
" To it gods ! gods to it ! see ! see ! now see 
Now see ! see to this Hell ! God will be here ! 
God He pursues ! now Terror ! Terror now 
Fortification finish ; add to what 
Is fortified as if it nothing were : 
Nine times be added, and to that a tenth 
For Lucifer, for I." 

Then Terror seemed 8 1 

Dim from infinitude of size and went 
Forth like the giant Jatmund, and a horn 



392 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

As long as from his latten lungs unto 

His leaden lips made blow ; all hell turn'd black 

As if with instant death to hear ; all, all 

The towers of hell did reel, and leaning o'er 

Like Carisenda for the moment looked ; 

Typhon held up the head, Despair held up 

As if too fierce to bear, so agonized 

That hell was present doubly double sunk 820 

The damn'd set so to work : " This First !" cried he, 

And Pandemonium so huge before — 

So huge that in the lesser of the halls 

The billion billion reprobated had 

Space ample for their thrones, now look'd so small 

That Lucifer was satisfied God — God 

Could never master that although He brought 

All that was possible against the walls : 

Then he. 

" O gods ! from earth where objects cross 
Expressly first well- contradicting, so [830 

That all mankind to unities reduced 
For all that 's good are easily a prey : 
Gods ! once before from God this orb we tore 
And tearing the administration kept 
Through generations 'till the gen'ral flood 
Unto the multitude before arrived 



IN HELL. 393 

The final multitude perforce did add 

Our monuments. Nor since that desp'rate turn 

Of God's hath earth much frankincense bestowed 840 

But unto us returned save in one 

Confined spot, and there had he not wrought 

Continual miracle himself to keep 

In small remembrance that but piteous seemed 

So long as madmen prophesying died 

(Witness the dotard whom the lion slew,) 

Martyrs to that we always deem'd a lie, 

So at the length our power entirely taxed 

Unto the uttermost we thought the roots 

Of providence eradicated, air, 850 

Sea, and the land our own perpetual fee 

Ours as is hell's : — our tit'lar is no more 

Our own, all all those pleasaunces of balm, 

Localizations, altars, idol shrines 

Crowding that green domain in jeopardy 

If those sight-seers lunatics were not : 

He, He is come by them so oft foretold 

With stubborn iteration so that e'en 

The heathen caught some promise ; come indeed 

Incarnate man-like : we have verily seen 86'0 

Jehovah God The Son, of whom a noise 

Was bruited once in heaven which none explained 



394 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Inexplicable then, I palliate 
Such stroke he strook at me as ne'er in war 
Taken at disadvantage and with might 
Mightiest had I before." 

Adramelec, 
All the nine chiefs start up crying aloud, 
And they ; Adramelec the worst as he 
Was nighest unto Lucifer that time 870 

Ever to be remember'd ; ministers 
Of grace ! defend us from that sight of his 
Sore macerated shape ; his soul all o'er 
Was one continued wound and how he reached 
Hell from the earth the wonder : " He will come 
Here," they all cried nor said th' Aggressor, "Nay:" 
Then Death from the benumbent rose and asked 
With a sardonic grin, "What then]" and still 
"Ye timid gods ! what then V 9 

"Yea, what! what then 1" 
Join'd a sub-regent, " Time to both extends [880 

An hand and if to us the left with hell 
Console with this that every wrong is God's 
Rack'd with continual doubt : for if mankind 
His most particular workmanship so soon 
Fell from him what may we not yet expect \ 
Down by this God of God God we will hale 



IN HELL. 395 

The universe uniting as one soul 

Together for our purpose. O ! we 're hound'd 

And misery hath harden'd me the more, 890 

I mock him, curse him the Great King, uplift 

To the pale heavens my voice ; anathema 

Maranatha upon him ; all the storms 

Of this blue prison-house of fire and frore. 

O witness ye fang'd, foodless, famishing things, 

Gedim and all th' inhabitants of hell, 

No grief is mine for what I bear by God's 

Compulsion : ask the Earth how much we fear 

Her purpled seas her rivers running blood, 

Her winds are sicken'd with the blood of man, 900 

The valleys of his world upreeking airs 

As incense from his sin-corrupted sons ; 

Men for our weapons the eternal strife 

Continues : though to phantoms we are worn 

Let God upon or off his termless throne 

Exhaust his quiver scatt'ring through our shades 

His sharpen'd arrows thus are we revenged : 

He doth, we suffer : there O princes ! lies 

The broad distinction : in our turn we do 

God suff'ring, this new world the theatre 910 

Mankind the vehicles : for this same Christ 

Fire all the dismal elements, and more 



396 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The imprecating furies ; all our arts 

Malignant down upon his Godship bring 

Devoting him to Satan — Lucifer ! 

Thy pris'ners call thee that, to Death, and Hell 

To Christ and all the damned devils left 

Our partnership with all of them at end 

When his begins : now haste, haste we to earth." 

He said unknowing but no one made haste 920 

And Adsherac — who ne'er outside the walls 
Of hell had been permitted since that day 
Night drove them skelt'ring back, since Terror left 
Unwonted bold, cried out, 

" What better field 
Than earth whereon to fight % shall Lucifer 
Now flee % who fled not when his armies fell 
All intermingled from the pitch of heaven 
Our spirits to this metamorphose put ; 
Nor when upon a more disastrous day 930 

He rent the sun — nobly 'twas done, the deed 
Was valorous and worthy of the god ! 
As 'twas most worthy when returned afresh 
Thou won'st a world : if Thou abas'd wilt be 
That crown lay down ; another shall upmount 
The throne, and for myself I this will say 
Less should I shun Jehovah now to meet 



IN HELL. 397 

Than when before his battlements we filed 

Nor from his thunders fled — reviler ! but 

Went." 940 

Affrac, Harec, Eroctrac, Shry, Fok, 
Sub-powers confln'd like him, ten thousands, voiced 
Like thought, with faces green and livid, eyes 
No longer fading, and such horrid looks 
As threaten'd a dethronement : Ugoline 
De Gherardeschi, Ruggieri starved, 
With all his hapless sons never such looks 
Look'd, nor the sacrilegious Fucci when pursued 
By Cacus ; hard their lineaments all grim 
And ghast they turn'd on Lucifer and shook 950 

Horrid : then, then rose he as ne'er before — 
No not when the Undying Worm he met 
Gorged with Night, from posture upon that 
Stupendous height up then erect he towered 
As if hell's roof with calculating power 
He rent. 

" What other field'?" thus he, " what gain 
Had we upon the earth % 'tis mine but now 
Jehovah would reclaim it : " to some one 
Spectre, or more unseen he speaks, the leaved 960 

Portals of hell upon the iron swung 
Back with hell-quaking sound, and one of his 



398 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Dread unappealable expressions drove 
Earthward the sceptics forth. 

Then discomposed 
Zabrash, his fury rous'd against them thus : 

" On no light errand they : thou wast the first 
Great Emperor ! to raise a kingdom where 
No harps are found or some were soon prepared 
To greet those vaunters in forlorn return. 970 

Tradition was in heaven 'mongst other things 
That God conjunctive natures would put on 
And how conjunct we know, for gods we got 
On human-kind and others ; but in this 
Consummate mystery lies for what doth God 
Descend 1 not surely propagation for, 
Nor yet caprice which us propelling sorts 
Hap-hazard we engender'd — what they were 
There in those hideous imps too well is shown : 
And though conjoint inseparables, God 980 

Is veritable God as man in Him 
Is veritable man, though where the two 
Divide none know ; in that too diff'rence is 
With ours for they are neither separate 
But mix'd and by admixture total spoilt : 
This followeth then with Two we now contend, 
With God indeed, and man no less indeed 




'/?ri' ///A /,'/'/. </-7/l,' ///,//// 

TraxrvJudaJl Jesse's Sort. " 



IN HELL. 399 

Nor more than man ; in this particular 

Hope on : by what elimination God 

Is God Jehovah, also God The Son 990 

We know not, but his Unity we know, 

And if the Son the Father falls in One 

Essential Person : all our arms therefore 

Be, deities ! well burnish'd whether those 

Invented with the grosser shapes for man, 

Or those imagin'd of ingenious mind 

With subtlest points so sharp that you shall steal 

Therewith into Jehovah unaware ; 

With these assail we Christ, above in air, 

Below in earths continual so at last 1000 

Into the vortex of our toils he drop 

And O ! once fallen to rise no never more." 

He said, agreeing murmurs on all sides, 
As if Lui-shin the spirit that commands 
Thunder were there. 

But O ! with me return 
Thou Holy Spirit : on his toilsome flight 
From Judah Jesse's son ; O holy child ! 
Whilst Rachel mourning for her children and 
Great lamentation are in Rama heard 1010 

Because they are not. O bless'd Jesu ! God ! 
As the pure Virgin pass'd with Shiloh on, 



400 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Daemonic prodigy ! a net-like thing 
Wefted with serpents like a cobweb falls 
Upon him ; O the innocent ! he seeth 
Smiling and with those blue and heavenly eyes 
Meekly uprais'd apast's already gone. 

Then to themselves from that disguise returned 
The rebel angels ; Adsherac swoop'd down 
Within his talons — such were his deformed, 1020 

The boa writhing which had strung the whole, 
Indignant this rent he right through the spine 
Dashing him down : upgath'ring from his parts 
His antecedent form — angelical 
His face, but oh monstrosity ! his corps 
Bristling with horrent hair, upon him he 
Upon his shoulders fix'd, therein he dug 
Into the cervix where it joins the skull, 
Something ethereal flow'd, when with a stroke 
That Lucifer's broad wings alone could wave, 1030 

" All!" cried he, and smote, but all the powers 
Smote in the turn the four far-corner'd winds 
Regrating on the ground, but with a heel 
Of iron with such aversion Lucifer 
Trampled annihilation seem'd their lot. 

Now the Divine Similitude, Express 
Glory of God, Personal Image came 



IN HELL. 401 

From Galilee to Jordan, Thou, O Spirit ! 

Attesting with The Father His baptism : 

But who of Jesus claims attention] thence 1040 

Leading into the wilderness and when 

The sun went down there still ; " Long day," said he, 

" Thou 'st ponder 'd now with Night," that demon came : 

Then Jesus fainting felt : O Muse ! thou looked'st 

Though altogether vain for help when Eve 

Fainted, for some rare medicine, moly, 

Or such nepenthes Hellena had given 

In pearly myrrhine cup ; again I look, 

Amaze ! the great Redeemer from the skies 

To suff'ring come : then Lucifer, * ; Art God]" 1050 

Waiting the answer but that patient prince — 

His eyes downcast unto the earth, his hands 

Devoutly o'er his sinless bosom crossed, 

Xo otherwise replied. 

Audacious Arch ! 
If yet not God, before th' archangels Christ 
The Lord and thy Creator answereth not, 
With speech such as The Spirit gives, for God 
The Son's most holy sake Religion ! thou : 
O Profligate! wilt thou a lie suggest] 1060 

As once thou grafied'st in the harmless heart 
Of our weak mother in the hope to graft 

D D 



402 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The heart of God ; infatuated fiend ! 

Observe th' effect — if an effect it have 

Other than this to add unwonted weight 

Afresh to pity for thy wretched state, 

That e'en thy recklessness forgot may be 

In momentary ache for what thou art ; 

O Righteous One ! rebuke him : was he not 

By silence such as our Atoner held'? 1070 

Then Night more palpably outstretching God 
Shudder'd, and that Aggrievor ask'd again. 

Third time third night ask'd he and answer mete 
Receiving all the fourth long day our Lord 
In uncomplaining want he left. 

Then Night 
Girding with him came back and, " O !" said he, 
" This man hath said he's God :" she girded more. 

Through the fifth day unnourish'd Jesus sate 
His sweetest image marr'd, " Impatient Night!" 1080 
Said her Abettor, " thou God's jaoler be," 
Then her th' Abandon'd kiss'd and dusky wings 
Outspreading dived. 

Night then approaches made 
Haglike, and looking to her toes said, " God ! 
Admire them," then she wound him in her arms 
Nor He resisting long she held as tight 



IN HELL. 403 

As she could hold, and with impure salute 

Whin'd, " God ! art thou alive?" then flung away, 

" Upon these stones," cried she, " I sit 'till thou 1090 

Comest unto me;" opposite sate she 

Waiting full thirty days beating the ground, 

Kicking and raving, courting, coaxing so 

The sun thereat the while for shame eclipsed. 

Then the Beginner join'd and with him Death 
Grown nine times larger, lustier, inflamed, 
Backward fell he his occulars muffling 
Gleering askant; at length, " Godhead!" cried Death 
And in a syncope away dissolved, 
Night and the Bravo fled. 1100 

Then came to Christ 
That Adsherac habilimented in 
The everlasting fire ; " O David's son ! 
Efflowing God ! " said he, " though by the banks 
Human confin'd, thing wond'rous the finite 
Engirdling the infinity ! what dost 
Design 1 long time Life's River thou shalt glide 
Ere mortals stoop to drink ; to bitter sweet, 
To ill the good is chang'd : no price ask I, 
If man saw hell, and heard th' eternal wail 1110 

Of the thick soul-strown shores, and in his state J 
The Alienator, this thy argument 

o d 2 



404 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Whereby futurity to save : this I 

Will show for neither love, O God ! to Thee 

Nor them — contemn'd the both, but for revenge." 

" No covering from God hath hell" then said 
The tempted Jesus, " if from man 'tis well 
Lost spirit ! it were vainly done : " in grime 
Th' abjurer instant fled. 

Then Lucifer 1120 

Invoking all came on : Th' Undying Worm 
Trail'd, Death along as wistful, compassing 
About the pure and holy Son of God 
And man ; dread was their doing ; Death with arms 
Strongest as at the first he Adam sought 
In whom we died, the second Adam now 
Essay 'd in whom we live ; God's Person he 
Insidiously attempted but no speck 
Finding his stings upon himself he turns, 
His ganglions droop, and paralys'd his shape 1130 

Falls : the Undying Worm too dealing dire — 
Damp awe is mine to tell, flaccid, unstrung 
Lay also prostrate : when they lifeful grew 
With renovating horror back to hell 
With Night they spanking sped, the road they took 
Strewn all the way with swoln and rotting limbs. 

The sun was risen and set full forty times 




^^.JCz. 



" tf thou 
Thoii. art the Son of Cod command, these stones 
tread "become 




rf thou the Son of &od.may' betftjseif 
Cast down /or it is // it kis Angles hare 

7 //r/- in //////• Charo, 



IN HELL. 405 

Then Jesus hungered nor yet could he 

That Forcer yet forbear, so rank his hope 

That by repeated aim the Lord of Life 1140 

Might make relapse ; and then said he, " If thou, 

Thou art the Son of God command these stones 

They bread become." 

Then Jesus answer'd thus, 
" By bread alone man shall not live, but live 
By word also proceeding forth of God." 

Then Jesus up was caught and set upon 
A pinnacle, and the Arch-tempter said 
" If thou the Son of God may be thyself 
Cast down for it is writ His angels have 1150 

Thee in their charge, lest thou against a stone 
Thy foot should'st dash." 

And Jesus said, " Again 
'Tis writ the Lord thy God thou shalt not tempt." 

Then to a mountain most exceeding high 
He taketh Jesus showing to him all 
The kingdoms of the earth and said, "All these 
I give thee will if thou but worship me." 

And Jesus answer'd, " Hence ! for it is writ, 
' The Lord thy God thou worship shalt and serve.' " 1 160 

Then he arose, and O ye heavens give ear, 
O earth his words ! for they shall drop as vain, 



406 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

His speech distil as dew upon the herb, 

And as the showers upon the tender grass : 

He is the Rock, perfect his works, his ways 

Are judgment, true, and just and right is He. 

O Man ! remember all the days of old, 

The years of all the generations ; ask 

Thy fathers and the elders they shall show : 

The Lord He found us in a desert land, 1170 

And in the howling wilderness, He learned 

And kept us as the apple of his eye, 

And as an eagle nutt'reth o'er the young 

Bearing them on the wing, the Lord hath brought 

His people to the increase of the fields, 

And oil, and honey, butter, milk of sheep, 

And fat of lambs. O who like God can teach % 

Behold his finger traced line on line 

And precepts on the firmament but man — 

Those lessons so sublimely writ, from out 1180 

His lurking places soon upon them gazed 

As painful, even on the images 

Expressive of the government of God ; 

The statute-book of heaven misconstruing he 

Went far astray, though witness found the truth 

From Adam unto Noe through the line 

Of Seth, and now since the baptismal Flood 



IN HELL. 407 

Through Shem to Heber, yet — on evil set 

Continual, to man God written law 

By Moses gave. O who to God is like 1190 

Amongst all gods % the God that cov'nant keeps 

And everlasting goodness : God His Son 

Hath sent the last the word of God to teach, 

God The Predicted, in the Central Light 

The Dweller, of all goodness Author, Great, 

Solemn, obedience claiming, full of Grace, 

Searcher of hearts of men ; with signs he comes 

And mighty wonders, lo ! the sick he heals, 

Cleanses the lepers, gives the blind their sight, 

The deaf their ears, the lame to walk are made, 1200 

The dead to rise, and — from their seats put down 

The proud, he those of low degree exalts. 

Divine Instructor ! on Thy lips we hang : 

" Bless'd are the poor in spirit," Jesus cried, 
" In spirit theirs of heaven the kingdom is : 
Bless'd they that mourn for comfort they shall have : 
Bless'd are the meek, the meek with God shall reign : 
Bless'd they which after righteousness do thirst 
And hunger them the God of grace shall fill : 
Bless'd are the merciful they mercy find: 1210 

Bless'd are the pure for God the pure shall see : 
Bless'd are the peaceful they're the sons of God: 



408 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Bless'd those which, wrongfully they persecute 

For righteousness reward to them is great : 

Resist not evil, but whoe'er shall smite 

Upon thy cheek the other to him turn : 

To him that fain thy coat away would take 

Unto him give thy cloak : to him that asks 

Give thou ; nor from the borrower turn away : 

And love your enemies; bless them who curse; 1220 

Do good to them that hate you ; pray for them 

Which use you with despite, and perfect be 

Even as God our Father perfect is." 

This was the Gospel brought, the gate of heaven 
Re-open'd and mankind to happiness 
Bidden : thus He who stretch'd the heavens aforth 
When we forgot the testimonial stars 
Down from His Dwelling Place of Glory came 
God manifested for our sake in flesh ; 
Herein was love ! Look from the top, O spouse ! 1230 
Of Amana, Shenir, and Her mon, look 
From lions' dens and mountains of the pards, 
The voice of thy Beloved knocking, saying, 
" Open to me my love ! my undefiled ! 
My head with dew is fill'd, my locks with drops 
Of the dark night." Chiefest is he amongst 
Ten thousand, ruddy, white, his head like gold, 



IN HELL. 409 

Black as the raven are his clustering locks, 

His eyes like dove's are set, his cheeks a bed 

Of spices — as sweet flowers, lilies his lips 1240 

Dropping with myrrh, his hands like golden rings 

Set with the beryl, ivory his waist 

O'erlaid with sapphires, pillars are his legs 

Socketed — set with gold, his countenance 

As Lebanon, as cedars excellent, 

His most sweet mouth ! he 's lovely altogether : 

He feedeth 'mongst the lilies 'till the day 

Break and the shadows flee : Beloved ! turn, 

Be like a roe, or a young hart upon 

The mountains of Bether, 1250 

Beauty of God ! 
Bright Shiner o'er the storms of wintry time ! 
Hope of the world! O Advocate! O Light! 
O Truthful Prophet ! Priest ! Incarnate King ! 
Abroad He went the Spirit in His mouth 
Of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, 
Knowledge, and fear of God ; not judging by 
The sight of eyes, neither reproving after 
Hearing of ears, but righteously judging, 
With equity reproving; thus He smote 1260 

With rod of mouth the earth, and with His breath 
The wicked slew : but who His great report 



410 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Believed ! lo ! what virulence of men 

Succeed these machinations ; when the fiends 

Fled the possess'd and down they fell " Tis by 

Beelzebub," they cried : meek humble he 

When they upbraided, curs'd, revil'd, and stormed. 

Surely our griefs He bore, and carried all 

Our sorrows and the chastisement for peace 

Upon Him with His stripes we all are healed : 1270 

Oppress'd was He, afflicted, yet His mouth 

He open'd not ; and as a lamb is brought 

To slaughter, and before the shearers sheep 

Are dumb so Jesus open'd not His mouth : 

From prison He and judgment false was ta'en, 

Who shall His generation tell 1 cut off 

From all the living : O ! how He was stricken 

For the transgressors ; yet it pleas'd the Lord 

To bruise Him, and an offering for sin 

The travail of His soul His seed shall see 1280 

And shall be satisfied. But woe to ye 

Chorazin and Bethsaida ; thou exalt 

Capernaum in the Day of Judgment best 

Shall be for Sodom, for the mighty works 

Within ye done : and woe to ye the scribes 

And pharisees ; of heaven the kingdom ye 

Shut neither ye yourselves going in nor others 



IN HELL. 411 

Suff 'ring to enter ; widows ye devour, 

Long prayer make, and when ye proselyte 

Than ye yourselves of hell a greater child: 1290 

Woe unto ye blind guides, ye fools and blind 

Who swear not by the Temple but the gold 

Within, not by the altar but the gift ; 

Of mint, and anise, cummin, tithe ye pay 

Omitting weightier matters judgment, faith, 

And mercy ; hypocrites which at a gnat 

Do strain and straight a camel swallow whole ; 

Ye whited sepulchres without so fair 

Within uncleanness and the bones of dead ; 

Ye generation of sharp vipers ; how — 1 300 

How hell's damnation can ye hope escape 1 



THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 



BOOK IX. 



THE ARGUMENT. 

The assembly of all the Holy angels with the Coronation of Christ. 
He maketh war against the King of Hell. The souls of the redeemed. 
Christ enters Hell alone, confronts Lucifer who is driven with all the 
rebellious, Hell, Chaos, and all into the Bottomless Pit. The book 
concludes with a general notice of what passed on the earth during this 
last drama, and the eulogium of Queen Victoria to whom the Poem is 
inscribed. 

Time, the ninth and tenth day. 



BOOK IX. 






" Let flare Hell's oriflame ! the time is come 

King of the Damn'd ! Infernal Monarch ! all 

Thy Devildom prepare ; the gods of fire 

Summon in harshest thunder for thy crown 

Of rays — nine spik'd from shiver 'd lightnings, sits 

Loose on thy hlacken'd brow : Vengeance in thought 

Like ten Hyrcanian lionesses rends 

Thee, thee, thee ! arm ! arm the accursed sprites ! 

Arm instant ! all the angelry is armed 

Against thee, all the saints of heaven are armed, 1 

Mouth speaking mighty things ! ruling their Head 

One from before the earth's foundation slain ; 

Arm ! He is strong who judgeth thee, even now 

His Banner they prepare, with looks that run 



416 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Thy blood to shed : let desolated Hell 

Roar with thy preparation ; stand, now stand 

Ready to meet Him of the many crowns 

Unfailing, for a prey the Lord shall make 

According to their deed repaying all 

His adversaries recompens'd : unto 20 

An end thy kingdom draweth ; God will now — 

Even God himself against thee now will fight : 

Thou who the first from out the Book of Life 

Wast blotted keep thy word, deny Him not, 

Hold fast for He descendeth, The Amen, 

Him upon whom to look is as the walls 

Thou sieged'st or sardine, Sabaoth's God : 

Thy chariot, bow, and arrows take He comes 

O Name of Blasphemy ! and Death's pale horse 

Harnessing, Death unto they right advance ; 30 

The day of wrath is risen, final woes 

Hail, fire, and blood and burning mountains great 

Of brimstone, plagues, and torments they prepare, 

Thou Dragon ! wherewithal to wound thee to 

Thy second death : thou Outcast of the Skies ! 

Deceiver of the world ! Profaner vile 

Of Images of God ! how shalt thou feel 

Dying, thy smoke for ever and for aye 

Rising : Destroyer ! now to overcome 



IN HELL. 417 

Or be o'ercome redemption past prepare ! 40 

Prepare ! for Him who for this war upon 
His thigh girds fast the sword : Damnation ! come 
Seize on this falling King." 

Thus sung the Muse 
Bearing me up to heaven, encouraging 
Me ever as she lift through all the six 
Into the holiest seventh of which before 
I knew only the threshold ; O my soul ! 
O Empress ! thou may'st better tell than I 
What then I felt, the joy, the overflowing 50 

And boundless gladness not to be restrained, 
The animation which dissolv'd me as 
A cloud dissolveth in the radiant sun, 
And O mine eyes were beams as earth I spurned 
Dispelling all the mists of ages with 
A glance, forgetful of the days and nights 
Since on a foreign soil I trod : — " Exult ! 
The heavens exult ! " she cried, " the hour is come ; 
Caverns, and crags, and pitchy fountains, and 
Ye boiling bubbling oceans in th' abysm, 60 

Deserts and wildernesses how I laugh 
With inextinguishable laughter : hell ! 
Ha ! ha ! how now I laugh ! " 

Thus through the air 
E E 



418 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Sweeping her harp to the unmeasur'd strains 

We pass'd like spirits, all the universe 

Drinking the sounds ; O how I gasp'd and gasped 

For breath, and well for me I copious drunk 

Of waters far more pure than those which flow 

From Eunoe else through the thousand spheres 70 

I had not sped like that ; O spheres within 

Spheres, and the one within a fairer sphere 

Than the preceding, unimaginable 

Of beauty; but O ! who the element 

Of the seventh heaven shall give % grind mist to mist 

The smallest, and from one sole atom grind 

A boundless globular expressly, plain 

From that one out, and iridescence from 

The lightest bubble bring, and tens of times 

Ten million add unto it all that light 80 

Alone can paint, — that ! that a bubble were 

Like one unsightly solid marble piece 

Of dirty stone to this : u Muse ! Muse ! " I cried, 

" Thine alabaster arms, 1 faint," nor she 

Kefus'd me and that traceless threshold thus 

With her devoutly cross'd : O God ! accept 

My presence, deem it not unholy ; God 

Encompass me ; and O Thou Spirit of Life ! 

Keep me ; I see ! a Vision : underneath 



IN HELL. 419 

An orb-like canopy that made the suns 90 

External look opaque the thrones were placed 

Of all the Holy Angels, deeper yet 

Dipp'd in the light were they — intensely light 

So that I scarce endure the pearly shine 

And ravishing radiance ; diamonds no more 

I value : high upon the cloudless cloud 

Of solid day which in the centre stands 

Distinctly shap'd, rises a column'd Throne 

As yet unoccupied ; Isocrates 

Were ten long years panegyrising one — 100 

One of the royal ornaments ; Cinna 

Laborious had despair'd a thousandth part 

Of one the least, and had Vitruvius seen, 

Palladio, or Callimachus they scorned 

All the five Orders as disorder'd things ; 

O how the feet upspring if they are feet, 

Or bases azur'd, from that sea of seas 

Illumin'd with the white that whitest snow 

Turn'd black, and with the clear that crystal made 

Insufferable dirt : lo! there are suns 110 

Within them wing'd, or winged spirits like 

The burning suns that waver like the wind 

When transported with love ; ethereal 

They are like countless eyes : O now T see 

E E 2 



420 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The cherubim as darkness where they bear 
As Caryatides or Genii the 
Pil'd piles of pillars up ; O how they stand 
As if eternal fix'd adoring eyes 
Uplifting in acknowledgment so high, 

Muse ! dare I now follow them? I turn 120 
Mine own for an example ; all the hosts 

Of heaven are standing ; all the myriads stand 

Each one by his own throne ; never before 

Unto this shrine of shrines had any passed, 

And the archangels stand in wonder lost 

With e'en the pavement ; far beyond remote 

Circle the seraphim ; beyond them in 

A wider circle cherubim ; virtues 

Are next seen visible ; the powers behind ; 

The principalities the sixth in row 130 

Innumerable ; the dominions thence 

Rang'd out ; lastly the thrones beatitude 

In all their faces, but they look not up 

Nor I, I dare not ; the eternity 

1 think of and shrink back ; I also think 
Of Him who made Eternity look pale 
And little : O trite time ! how easily 

An infant of a moment all the bounds 
Of thy horizon grasps. Then I beheld 



IN HELL. 421 

Zarael who kill'd Togarmah, Tonoros 140 

Who was the first in heaven's first war to kill 

A rebel angel ; Triminor was there, 

And those who took the banners, Pharnaspine 

And his companion worthies ; there also 

Ashoron, Apthos, Rhotyn, Alessine, 

Tauromer, Sothon, Sifanaros who 

Have an inscription on a lofty arch 

Of triumph at due distance from the arch 

That Michael's firstly had ; all these had been 

Re-consecrated, all the angels had 150 

Themselves re-consecrated to the Lord 

When summon'd to this council ; all the heavens 

Breath'd impregn'd incense, all the altars bore 

Off'rings unto Jehovah e'er one went 

The Trinal Stairs to mount ; th' archangels ne'er 

Had passed beyond the lowest until God 

In Person of The Son to heaven returned 

From lighting up the Universe and then 

They were assisted by The Holy Ghost, 

But not into the Holy wherein now 160 

Enchanted all th' assembled angels stood 

Together with them. 

Now the dial which 
Markd the celestial time was on the point 



422 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of chiming the fourth day since Adam fell 

When One like to the son of man — unto 

The foot divinely cloth'd and girt about 

With a gold girdle, white His hair, His eyes 

As names of fire, His feet as if they burned, 

His countenance as if the noon- tide sun, 170 

Upon that Throne appear'd ; within His hands 

Seven stars, and when the angels saw He cried — 

His voice like many waters so that all 

The solar spheres were seen to bend as if 

They ready were to snap, " Fear, fear Me not, 

I am The First, The Last, I lived and 

Was dead, I am alive for evermore, 

And have the keys of Hell and Death." 

Then one — 
Whom no one knew, in lowliness knelt down 180 

Before that Triple Throne, — germin'd was she 
In the eternal counsel, writ upon 
Her forehead, " Knowledge ! " from a living lock 
That open'd inward she drew out a great 
Imperishable Roll with warped wings 
Which then flew open ; all the holy knelt, 
To see their names within a frightful gap 
The names rebellious lost : no verse can paint 
The blot, the blotting ; Knowledge vainly pored 



IN HELL. 423 

The indiscernible oblivion'd names 190 

That once shone there authentical, now God 

Himself could not authenticate e'en one 

For long God look'd and all His sovran light 

Directed on the page : then Memory 

Rose solemnly before Him and the Book 

Of the Remembrance brought ; a spring had that 

By which she clos'd it from th' Omniscient eye 

And all the angels lest it made if not 

God all the latter miserable ; she 

Even the covers most assiduously 200 

Had cover'd ; folding now the eyes, the ears, 

Before the senate of the skies she them 

Unfolded, and unfolded scarcely when 

A crash of heaviest thunder fell from out 

The hands of Justice standing at her side, 

They, they were much too light ; this calling, in 

A shadowy procession march'd along 

All that therein were pictur'd from their dead 

Slumbers so rous'd, nor they ador'd nor feared 

But fix'd the ken on God, the keenest ken 2 1 

On God, for every one against His Spirit 

Were sinners ; O my soul ! but in the heavens 

No tear may stain one cheek : methought the floor 



424 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Shook as before the Throne, before The Lord 
That revelation was. 

Next Prescience brought 
Her shining Tables and that synod made 
Glad ; every one thrilled with sacred awe 
To read within them what first time they read 
Of past perplexities that none had thought 220 

It possible to straighten, now as straight 
As lines they were and straighter, and revealed 
Fate as a good, not merely as a just 
But good Identity — a Cymbeline 
That charm'd them all : O she the eyes lifts up 
From light to light to God ; then up also 
I look'd, and lo ! I took within me all — 
All the infinity, — in that swum hell — 
As in a sea a strange unnatural thing, 
And from beyond drew God His presence so 230 

No trace whatever of Himself was left 
Upon, within, or near it ; heaven alone 
Seem'd to enjoy the presence : thus it seemed 
To me as if' a mirrorizer stood 
Exhibited in which unblench'd I saw. 

Then rose The Son — all knees before Him bowed, 
And was commission'd : in His loving eyes 



IN HELL. 425 

I read the whole that pass'd nor silence keep 

Religion ! but let tell, for what I gaz'd 

To see shall others glad attention give 240 

To hear, and everlasting joy be theirs : 

And first the light was yet more hallow 'd made 

And more resplendent ; Intellect did this 

By means most secret, she came forth from out 

God's bosom : then the seven before the Throne 

Cried " Holy," and the crowned heads which stood 

By four-and-twenty seats beyond the sea 

Of crystal round about they "Holy" cried, 

"Holy Lord God Almighty, which was, is, 

And art to come ; " and when they glory gave 250 

Their golden crowns they cast, saying, " O Lord! 

Worthy art Thou glory and honour to 

Have, power, for Thou all Greatest hast, 

For Thee they were created:" in the midst 

The spirits cried, " Holy," harpers harped, 

" Worthy The Lamb ! power, wisdom, riches, strength, 

And honor, glory, blessing be to Him 

That sitteth on the Throne ; " the cherubim 

" Amen ! Amen : " God then the Golden Keys 

Of Glory took, and all the angels cried, 260 

" Crown! crown Him Lord of all !" a Diadem 

I saw like an eternal one with gems 



426 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Engirt, heliotropianal gems 

As if new made and by none other but 

God they so glisten'd; " O ! who, who shall wear 

That Diadem 1 " Eternity I heard j 

In a low whisper ask when One Unseen 

If seen, plac'd it upon His head, and straight 

Anointed God The Son : then praise was heard, 

" To Him! to Him! the gods; to Him! the gods, 270 

King of the worlds innumerable ! God's 

Co-Heritor ! before Eternity 

Bow'd awful in The Presence, Wonderful 

One ! filled with all Fulness bodily 

And manifest in flesh The Filial God ! 

O Personality Divine ! Thou Sun 

Of Righteousness ! ineffable to see, 

God of IUimitable Glory ! Thou 

Transcendent Myst'ry of the covenant made 

And kept with man ! The Messenger of God 280 

In God ! now alleluias : lo ! the deep 

Foundations of the universe to Thee 

Are nothing ; nothing elements that loose 

Were its destruction ; light before the light 

That gilds Thy Diadem insuff 'rable 

Blackness becomes : O Crowned King ! what tongue 

Shall give Thy praises 1 Thy dominion who 



IN HELL. 427 

Shall sum through added ages golden sums 

Of number trilling from his tired lips, 

The doors of heaven all open lest the heaven 290 

Burst : Thee we sing, adore, but O ! how vain 

Our intermingling voices ; Music be 

Low ; let the shalm, the dulcimer, the lute, 

The harpsichord be soothe ; no breath be heard 

That utt'reth not His praises over-well, 

Rapt'rous to mutest inexpressive love 

Joy'd into such a passionate as shall 

O blessed God ! acceptable be found : 

Ye shaping visions ! all ye bright- wing'd spirits 

That bring the morning light and ever tend 300 

On us God's happy favourites as ye 

Are ours, come join your song, this happy time 

Is heaven's first jubilee, hereafter oft 

To be observ'd by all ; sing and adore, 

Pure concords from your strings ascending up 

In gen'ral chorus ; melodies hereto 

Kept sacred glad unlock that all may flow 

Back to the broad capacious ocean of 

The inexhaustless Ocean whence all come 

Originally forth: Great King! the lyres 310 

Sigh sympathetica!, with them we skreen 

Our tearful eyes and all the honied words 



428 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of heaven rejecting as incompetent, 

Or thralling, to the universe our bliss — 

Before the Light ! to Thee ! Commission 'd ! Crowned ! 

In unpremeditated sound express : " 

O what a burst was then ! from all the store 

Of heaven like silver streak'd with rivery gold 

Sparkled with million million flashing sparks 

Of stars and diamonds, rubies, sapphires and 320 

Other most shining argent aurine things 

That seem'd and seem'd not and then seem'd again, 

Until each unit in that countless quire 

Felt his expression for himself by all 

Was comprehended and by God enjoyed 

To the extremest force : and then I heard 

From out the primal Source of all things come 

Command to Honour and to Providence 

Who thus directed spake, bright Honour first ; 

" Ye congregated angels who assist 330 

Our council, unsubdued the Enemy 
Though driven from heaven, and earth by your brave 
Even to hell ; they insurrection hurl [arm 

Continual up implacable and proud 
As fallen : the Adamic race were theirs 
But for God's Majesty : God's Antique Throne 
None but himself against the warrior-chief 



IX HELL. 429 

Had held : now therefore forth His Might be put 

In wrath and terror : Arm ! Omnipotence ! 

Thy foes Thy footstool." 340 

Providence thus joined, 
" Thy foes Thy footstool : Glory be to God 
On high, we praise, we bless, we worship Thee, 
We glorify Thee, thank Thee O Lord God ! 
Heavenly King ! " 

Then The Incarnate Word 
Ascended to the upper Throne of Thrones, 
The Ancient Throne of Days, Throned the first, 
The powers of heaven libation pouring out 
From all the carmine chalices devote 350 

Since their remembrance to Almighty God : 
Then fill'd the daedal cups they deeply quaffed 
Another chorus rising 'till the roof 
Ringing again the exultation shook 
To hell's far confines : the Confounder heard 
Confounded ; " God hath surely hell surprised 
Whilst we are absent," all his agnates cried 
Following hell-ward : Hell heard embattling straight 
Lighting up all the fires on all the hills ; 
Behind the Emperor they bound and barred 360 

The adamantine gates and garrisoned 
The wondrous walls diving to mvst'rv, and 



430 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To mystery mounting : then Night rattled all 

The gongs and — Noise put down, the puissants called 

About her ; how their overshadowing plumes 

Shook whilst they glar'd ! the great recess of "Waste 

Was mov'd fear-struck, and those that had not wings 

Clomb up the iron sides with claws, and bills, 

And beaks, and spurs more iron, whilst the winged 

Steam up from the red gulfs in all the pomp 370 

Of wonder : then the direful Dirse met ; 

Never before met they — the offspring of 

Geryon and Echidna far less dire, 

These from their furnaces, whilst Tempest strange 

Lifted the oceans ; O ! what unto that 

Was earth's deluga!? Lucifer aghast 

Beheld but more aghast saw then aroused 

From torpor one begotten by himself — 

Yea by himself on Hell, that sunk The Worm 

Undying down a dastard ; from the depth 380 

Of Deep it crawl'd, a Hell improv'd on Hell 

Which blacken'd at his frown as if before 

She was in truth most fair ; O Dante when 

The Lombard he call'd " Master " err'd in that, 

And Milton when advice of hell he sought 

From the pretending pagans who a hell 

Pictur'd that unto ours had been a heaven ; 



IN HELL. 431 

A sudden horror shot through all his frame 

When him he saw, pallid his features fell 

His knees together smiting : so a thief 390 

Caught in the act, or an adulterer 

Thrust through : this Thing was his, it look'd like his 

Exactly and it was, and how his wrath 

Burn'd ! Desolation desolated turned 

Or would have turn'd upon him had she dared 

To trust the broken back ; to uttermost 

Deform'd was he so that his dam herself 

Sham'd and the spirits living and the dead 

Howl'd ; all the vacant shades he swept, returned 

In less than one half instant ; then indeed ! 400 

Was Lucifer arous'd as if before 

He had been half-asleep ; Adramelec 

And Moloch dropp'd the banners they had kept 

Outside the walls of heaven, and Silence broke 

Out loud, so loud all wonder'd what it was 

So tongueless yet so tongued ; forth manifest 

Of flaming fire and frore stood Death as if 

His secrets he would tell oranything 

Do but to save his life, and Terror rolled 

Himself close gath'ring up and Blackness swore — 410 

Or tried to swear by him for love to stand ; 

The Dirae look'd as if they queried if 



432 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

'T was possible they saw or — frenzied gone, 

Thought as the mad whilst this upon them looked 

Dreadless, or worse contemptuous, and there 

Chaos heaven-born stood petrified : but oh ! 

What words shall give that Imagery % fume 

He breath'd and blew in volume far away 

When he expir'd and as he blew the fires 

Within the embers glow'd — like some fierce blast 420 

Over a burnt down forest all the heaps 

Of ashes scatter'd, all the half-burnt trees 

Flaming again : then he unlock'd the seas 

That yet were mounded and cried out, " For Hell 

Of hell now Lucifer shall fight or — woe ! " 

So cried with his glance-killing eyes he drove 

The rebels all before him, and the fiends, 

The devils weeping, wailing, gnashing teeth, 

And all the sable troops of horse that fed 

On vegetable fires, or on the crisp 430 

Long efflorescent salts and sulphurites 

Depastur'd ; all the hell-black ghosts, the jinns — 

Such as queen Seba's throne to Solomon 

Carried, with all the lamise, graiae, worse — 

Worse than were e'er in the Erythraean sea 

Spawn'd or Maremma's Marsh, asps, serpents all 

On fire with horned flames and souls all o'er 



IN HELL. 433 

Painted with putrid nodes, and evil things 

Splay-footed, horned, whose erected hair 

Grew from the naked brain, and worms of fire 440 

Long leagues in length, all he together drove 

To Aceldama, all — his sire distract 

Alone excepted, unto him he held 

In amity an hand nor was refused : 

Then the Obscure and Hot grew more obscure 

More hot when they agreed ; Th' Undying Worm 

Had a command o'er all the elops — such 

Amphitryon's son had more than terrified, 

Enyo had not borne them ; these the shores 

Lin'd thick by millions ; he Beelzebub 450 

O'er those born somewhat like himself was put 

A ruler and a most prolific brood 

They were with wide wen-lipped wolfish grins ; 

Death took the frighten'd furies that had birth 

Under himself outside the heavens and in 

The earth, and in the hell, he arm'd them with 

Great torches that Byzantine fire made frost, 

Tressed were they with snakes that strew'd the ground 

With countless young, unrest continual theirs 

Either begetting or producing, now 460 

Coiling and now uncoiling ; plum'd with flame 

As if new-fir'd and like a heavenly sprite 

F F 



434 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

By the comparison came Night, a shape 

Illustrated her eyes that all the Vast 

Beneath made shallow, o'er the Dirse she 

Commanded and the hell-bred horrors they 

Had (how I know not,) gender 'd, one lank worm 

I saw and saw no more, he Terror made 

Mean ; over all the horsed-grim his staff 

The Arch-deserted stretch'd, rowels wore they 470 

And well their horses flank'd swilling their sides 

With blood and yet so held the bits as kept 

Them all upon the spot ; Baal was one 

And Ekriel — O once most beautiful 

Of cherubims ! now none had recognised 

Those worried looks ; O ! who can dwell content 

In fire ? O saddest pity ! how endowed 

He was who had remembrance % in the gloom 

Gloomy look'd he corrupting ; so a man 

Dying with a claw'd-cancer eating at 480 

The heart and yet another at the throat ; 

O horrible ! O horrible ! to that 

Is Ekriel indeed ! impair'd ] his Lord 

Remaineth grand if ruin'd, and no one 

Ever had love for Lucifer whate'er 

Of admiration, Muse ! O pass him bye. 

" Hark ! 'tis the total universe to wreck 



IN HELL. 435 

Utterly gone," I thought and cried when lo ! 
I saw a cherty chariot thund'ring up 
Beyond the gate of heaven pealing along 490 

Such pealing thunder as before was ne'er 
Heard ; that I follow darkling : listen ! ho ! 
Ho ! to the rainbow- winged steeds which fill 
All the void Void, the constellations reel, 
All the Elysian pines and cedars bend 
Their bronzed heads unto the rumbling ground 
The while they pass as if a hurricane 
Were raging that would tear them every one 
Up by the ancient roots ; there is a seat 
Within that looks unfathomable red 500 

With a consuming fire that overflows 
Over the edges in the guise of stars 
Like burning lamps, or like great burning mounts, 
Lamp-lighting stars go up and down and up 
Amongst them and the lightnings come aforth 
In flashes, wheels there are like beryls — high 
Wheels within wheels four sided, as they drive 
They turn not, rings eyeful around where'er 
They go close following for a living spirit 
Is in the wheels : O all ye glories ! all 510 

Ye bursts of spangled light ! O all ye things 
Starry — gold buds, and downy clouds, gold rocks, 

f f 2 



486 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Gold sands, seas, amethystine towers, rubied 

Palaces, silvery fountains ! over all 

I plant the standard of immortal song 

Pageanted History stripped ; Omnipotence 

In arms rose awful mounting ; lightnings blaze 

And growl the thunders and the heaven would flee 

But for His Majesty serene frownless 

Sustaining all the time ; the synod broke 520 

Up for the hour was stroke, the King of Heaven 

And Earth fully prepar'd thousands of trumps 

Sounding : then viols full of wrath were brought 

And one lift up the voice crying " Thrust in 

Thy sickle and the winepress of Thy wrath 

Be filled : " then unto the hosts of heaven 

A wonder was made known, God rolling clouds 

Away, in tempest cradled He revealed 

Such broods of Thunder that for every one 

Fallen angel there were handfuls if the hand 530 

Could wield they were so heavy, all the seven 

Archangels look'd distrusting ; Fame hath none 

So huge before reported ; there they lay 

In nakedness, the lightnings lathe to see 

Running amongst them, to a tumult all 

Going — indescribable like scath sprites 

That much too long had been chain'd up, they had 



IN HELL. 437 

For these were what the great Aggressor had 

Boasted in his first council, underground 

He in his pride conceiv'd them all, (not one 540 

Of all the thunders that existence had 

Or hath owns God th' Inventor,) these prepared 

He rose as hath been told and but for that 

Disastrous deluge probably had launched 

Them all against his Sovereign and his God ; 

How, how they bicker'd ! livid, sheeted, wroth, 

And some quintupular ; tremendous ! O ! 

For they were made for none but Lucifer 

His hardy hand ; and some had shaggy manes 

And twirling darted so that if once thrown 550 

None ever should wrench out ; great crackling coals 

Kept them alive all the vermilion'd flames 

Eat ravenously up the moment they 

Shot out beset around : " Woe ! woe !" they hissed, 

" To those we trouble woe ! " and leap'd all up 

Provoking round that chariot, God — pointing 

Their heads hell-ward and all the spirits like 

Bulls, lions, eagles, men in face, a fire 

Amidst itself unfolding, forward drove, 

Within and upward, and downward, around 560 

Him fiery brightness ; then a voice was heard 

Of One that spake to all the heavenly host 



438 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Commanding that they follow, far behind 

Stood they astonied, " Hell," Jehovah said 

Whilst all the Universe their Echoes grasped 

Silent for horror, " Hell- ward ! nor dismay, 

My exaltation this on Hell to war, 

Follow ! " then up His Triune Sceptre God 

Holding imblaz'd, in all The Father's might 

He drove with the archangels, seraphim, 570 

Cherubim, thrones, and principalities, 

Dominions, powers, and virtues ; hung unto 

His radiant zone the Keys of Death and Hell 

Rattling as quicker than the quickest light 

He pass'd : aloft His Sign was written with 

All lamentation, mourning both within 

And out ; thus as He rode the suns turn'd black 

Falling as when a tree untimely casts 

Her leaves when she is shaken, or a scroll 

When it is roll'd together ; as God drove 580 

Out from the portals of the heaven the hills 

And islands of this earth their places left, 

Sores falling on th' inhabitants, the seat 

Of Satan fill'd with darkness so they gnawed 

Their tongues for anguish of their pains and sores, 

And weighty hail falling exceeding plagued 

All that blasphemed. " All, all new I make," 




" uj God, drooA 

/'/,//'/;■/,/ efte ftorluls of the heavens the hills 
An/i islands ofihis eurlfi their Maces left 



IN HELL. 439 

Said God, " the former are no more ; I give 

Of life the Water freely unto all 

That thirst and of the Tree of Life the fruits 590 

Healing the nations : no more curse shall be, 

Take freely." Onward thence Effulgent He 

To Hell's portcullis'd doors — girded with steel 

And studded, in the wall of mountains set, 

Upon their ramparts all the kites of hell 

And o'er the bastion'd towers and outer domes 

Ten-circled, all the fiend-begotten, all 

The hellish furies that had wings to waft 

Aloft, the banner-cry of Hell peal'd forth 

Ramping from out their rugged throats as pipes 600 

War-deep made mocking : oh ! who knocked that — 

At the great gates like that ] nor only knocked 

But with one fulminating thunderbolt 

Burst them right in ; Hell at the summons thought 

To open had he time, but that one huge 

Twelve-bolted thunder through the panell'd rock 

Went and transfixed Death, the others fled 

After their flying hosts, Th' Undying Worm, 

Beelzebub, and Night, Chaos as well 

As e'er he could and all the Dira? fled 610 

Dragging the boasted Lucifer, for then 

That Boaster boasted, " Leave me! I alone 



440 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

By Death and Sin will meet Him." Out the smoke 

Unrepresentable pour'd curling, caked ; 

So in the gulf Tonquin the touch'd typhoon 

Edg'd coppery and black itself lets loose 

Raging, redoubling : that aside with blast 

Of breath or backward driven I saw, Great God ! 

The prison-house of darkness then first time 

Since it was scoop'd lit up ; within those gates 620 

Sin secretly with an untiring mind 

Had hollow'd out and so made ample room 

For every soul that Adam own'd for sire, 

And there was Sin still busy, busied so 

The forcing of the gates even that had not 

Disturb 'd her in her work, but in the heart — 

Which border 'd on the hinges, with edg'd tools 

All her hard hands kept plying : clapp'd above 

Their heads their arms, ineffable their looks, 

All the Redeem'd came forth, since they were dead 630 

To earth the time with them as spirits passed 

And yet it seem'd too long, u To God!" they cried 

" Salvation ; to our Lord, Almighty ! who 

With Thee and with the Holy Ghost liveth 

And reigneth evermore one God, One God ! 

W^orld without end;" thus they, all nations, kins, 

Peoples and tongues, and all the angels and 



IN HELL. 441 

The elders and the cherubim fell down 

Upon their faces worshipping and saying, 

" Amen ! blessing and glory, wisdom and 640 

Thanksgiving, honour, might and power to God 

For evermore, amen : " these all were tried 

In tribulation, now no more shall they 

Hunger nor thirst for Christ the Lamb shall lead 

Them unto living fountains dried their tears : 

And then they cried, " Almighty God we give 

Thee thanks for thou Thy mighty power hast ta'en, 

Thy wrath is come and Thou shalt punish Death, 

And them destroy who all the earth destroyed:" 

Then was a temple open'd with the ark 650 

Of Testament and so therein they all 

Crown'd victors went ; Death unto Sin cried out 

And listening unto that the whole she saw 

Abandoning her art, " Now grave me, grave, 

Grave me ! " to Death shriek'd she, Death black'ning more 

Disrellish'd e'en the thought : O how he made 

As if he would depart ! even as if 

He would be uncreated, torture fixed 

His occulars, all his in-being writhed, 

But death was deathless made ; a wounding storm 660 

Drove right upon them, all the angels stood 

Afar with the redeem'd whilst Vengeance made 



442 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

His victims, down swoop'd he and every sting 

Of Death tore mercilessly out, O what 

Soul-stinging stings were they ! an adder bites, 

Ten adders with a common-tooth scarce gained 

Attention from the wretched who one sting 

Of all those numbers felt ; inexorable 

Down-trampling Sin likewise the two he chained 

Unto that chafing chariot wheels, o'er both 670 

Driving matchless in arms ; Death all his jaws 

Expanding, they were crush'd and every fang 

To powder instant ground : then hell itself 

Seem'd crumbling into nothing but God held 

The fiat foundation sinking Him to see 

Upholden all the while ; cried then aloud 

The tongueless Echoes that the damn'd had made 

Tongueless ; O Omnipotent ! what were all 

Earth's conquerors ? this with destruction armed 

Invincible drove on over the heaps 680 

Of heapy ruin, o'er the glassy gulfs 

More than Serbonian, wildernesses waste 

With wasted waste, and over peaked mounts, 

Vanishing valleys into vacancy 

Abandon'd ; and was Vacancy also 

A spirit] it ten centred cressets seemed 

Glowing upon Him and it fled — behind 



IN HELL. 443 

A deader channel ; then the sable air 

Grew sable and the clouds, fell Lucifer 

Was turn'd, no more they dragg'd him but he now 690 

Dragg'd them and at his side the one described 

That is descriptionless : the yet untouched 

Stores of asphaltum they abandon'd to 

The fires most inextinguishable, out — 

Out they all belch'd at once, well then it was 

That none had follow'd God — no one beside 

The gapped gates had enter'd though a space 

Was left as long infinite longer than 

The fifteen hundred miled wall they built 

To keep the Tartar out and vainly built 700 

As these : thus foremost he the Origin 

Of evil moral, physical, though some 

As if for God excusing say the last 

No evil is, Religion at the root 

Blindly attacking, — he now taking heart 

Calling his seraphim — rueful they heard, 

As wand'ring spirits heard the sorceress 

Calling them back into their putrid corse 

For a confinement, but none disobeyed 

Their Absolute and compassing about 710 

Thron'd him in dark magnificence of mail : 

The rest too were uprisen Night as black 



444 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Or blacker than was Hell, Th' Undying Worm, 

Even Beelzebub and Chaos rose 

With all their armies in their surest clad 

With all their arms invented since they came 

Hither, and arms they were ! a whity horse 

His, with a crown of iron upon his head, 

Within his hands a bow that would have brought 

Vesta from her orb'd place Haraphon : in 720 

His hands a spherul'd sword Zabrash : Togarm 

Pois'd welded thunders that were doubtless forged 

Not in the heavens, intending all to launch ; 

And thus the others : millions follow 'd close, 

Horses with countenances fierce of men 

But hair like women's, lion-like their teeth, 

Their heads like lions' crown'd ; breastplates they wore 

Of fire, jacinth and brimstone ; one a great 

Red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and crowned, 

And wrathful floods he cast ; another was 730 

Crown'd like the last, and horned like unto 

A pard and raging bear, his mouth was like 

A lion's ; then a third two-horned spake 

As dragon's spake, and fire brought down pouring 

The utmost indignation ; three there were 

Like frogs gigantic most unclean which met 

At Armageddon ; one a scarlet beast 



IN HELL. 445 

Filled with names of blasphemy rode high 

As if to slay Jehovah glorying 

Much, but not long for He amongst them sent 740 

Deaths, mournings, famines, raining rabid plagues 

In oceans full ; O the red agonies 

That burn'd them up ! O the bewilder'd eyes ! 

The ululation of eternal woe 

On all sides round ! Hell's lifted arm as soon 

He lift 'twas stiffen'd ; Terror died outright 

For double terror by the chance of one 

Flash from His eyeballs so he instant fell 

And fell regretted as a spirit that 

Had been indulgent, nor unstained with blood 750 

He also felt the wheels or if not felt 

His carcase lay beneath them ; rivers rose, 

Volcanoes volumes pour'd, and all the winds 

Like the Levantine, Greccan, Ponent met 

Together ; lightnings leap'd for ever but 

None touch'd Almighty God ; then adamant 

No more was adamant, and fire no more 

Fire but a most delicious sense of cold 

Compar'd to what they now too late found out 

In hecatombs undone or flying like 7(U) 

Chaff or like fleetest ghosts before a storm : 

So when a continent entire subsides 



446 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Interminable forests are overwhelmed 

The trees stripp'd present bare and torn up by 

The roots ; or when the summer-grass they fire 

The blacken'd trunks remain : God conquer'd all 

As if before none conquer'd, Pity fled 

Rankling, Confusion and Avengement lay 

Both satiated : keep thy count'nance hid, 

Thine ears close stopp'd O sinner ! whilst I draw 770 

For the most sacred Empress : Second Death 

Towers like great ocean cliffs, rapacious, grim, 

Striding colossal, as if then Death were 

Dead born but animated by the shock 

Receiv'd ; whirl winding all that saw him fled — 

Many who saw to idiotcy were turned, 

Him ! the wide-stretching, the wide-reaching, the 

Wide-waxing one replete with horror and 

With — oh ! no word 's for that ; and he interred 

Within him millions at a time nor yet 780 

Was freighted ; Death that had been and that Sin 

Both were engulf 'd and otherwise all hell 

Was more than dizzen'd by the damned daze 

His doing ; with no helping wings nor feet 

But something that were more, unrein'd, uncurbed 

He ran or reeling roll'd at every step 

Exploding like three fiery mountains, or 



IN HELL. 447 

A comet when the lapidar is made 

Ten times too hot to bear it, flying out 

Innumerable splinters all through space 790 

As he through all that realm the splinters souls, 

O what a dread laboratory they 

Like clay had pass'd ! and now like flinted glass 

Imperishable made bore every one 

His uncial character ; O Wrath ! 't was thou 

That with a legal torture set that stamp 

Upon them drawing out the heart and that 

Thy signet stamping ; Woe the self-destroyed 

The self-destroyed angels ! search the world 

Through for this likeness, cleave the centre all 800 

Were vain, yet I delay o'erstepping all 

The bounds of language that my song divine 

Lose nothing of the knowledge God hath shown 

Unto his servant : O now call to mind 

Their counsel 'gainst His Majesty, their act 

Most diabolical on man, their whole 

Performance since that memorable day 

They rose rebelling ; who shall mete the half 

What they deserve, the coiners who the mint 

Of God broke open or would break and passed 810 

Their counterfeits for God's amongst themselves 

Conceitors ! first and next on Adam-kind, 



448 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

And worlds there were beside but they refused ; 

O the Deniers ! what have they denied 1 

The Second Death asks not, nor God but prove 

Scatt'ring before them to the starless site 

Of Lucifer's term'd throne ; he like a wind 

North-eastern by a more than furious wind 

From the south-west oppos'd upon the heels 

Of Hell retreated thither ; thrice he lift 820 

And thrice he also sank in his attempt 

To turn him ; dismal words were in his mouth 

Of daunt defiance and vibrations ran 

Up from the deepest roots unto the tip 

Of his most brassy tongue but no one heard 

If anything were said ; but parley none 

The other tolerated, what was hid 

He then uncover'd in a bloody heap 

Great ogre heads as if they in a lair 

Were all for him reserv'd or he for them 830 

Scarcely a meal, all these set up a roar 

When him they saw as satisfied what 

They meant, he back'd unto his soul of soul 

Shaken, and then had infamy been there ! 

But Infamy or what misjudging men 

Call Infamy to Lucifer was not, 

He shook, he shudder'd, but he shook at what 



IX HELL. 449 

And shudder'd ? so had God, and if he fled 

The holy hosts of heaven — although far off, 

Continually thought from that to fly 840 

And surely had had God not been between, 

Yea all the hosts with the archangels armed — 

The seven archangels armed at their head ; 

Upon the Outcast He hot ashes heaped 

And drove the seraphim enthroning down 

Discomfited and fallen and — if not dead, 

Blasted and dying. Thus alone fought God 

That battle, blazing as a comet down 

Upon them, or ten thousand comets, all 

Together flying, fainting, failing, all 850 

But one — but One before Him ; he the great 

Displayer still display'd, his sluices he 

Threw open raining all that he could rain 

Unwearied : shall he that diced with God 

For Empire fly ! though disenthron'd and all 

The living wheels of his war-chariot broke 

To shivers, never, never ! what although 

His armies are undone they were outdone 

Outside the walls of heaven nor then fled he, 

Again they fail'd him he preferred Death 860 

Unto Dishonour, now — ah ! now that Death 

The Second, and he thought how excellent 

G G 



450 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To look at were that shape that once was held 

So passing shocking, one that call'd herself 

His dira ; dira ! now for paramour 

Welcom'd were she ; this the Rewarder was 

Of his misdeeds, not The Undying Worm 

Which stunk within his nostrils as a worm : 

These were the Anarch's thoughts as he retired 

Like one close baited where his tyrant power 870 

Pageanted, Night receiv'd him and had fain 

Put to his palace-portals when, behold ! 

A sharper point than e'er before she felt 

Pierc'd her unto the heart and down she fell 

Blocking them up; nor God his chariot stopped, 

As erst the outside gates with one was forced 

In, now against the towers and awful domes 

Thunders He thunder'd thousands ; Hell then heard, 

Space in the sepulchre though she was dead 

She must have heard for something in The Deep 880 

Outside the heavens and also quite outside 

Hell it was heard to rattle back as if 

All her blank bones she rattled for the want 

Of any other voice, and oh ! that voice 

It upward went, it downward went, it went 

Out on all sides, and in with liberty 

To go beyond itself; beyond itself 



IN HELL. 451 

It went : O Man of Arms ! God in arms 
Fallen upon Thine enemy ! O Thou 
Of Bozra ! whom if yet the German sung — 890 

Klopstock, art yet unsung — though strain devout 
Was his ; O Liberator ! O Thou great 
Arbitrator ! Accomplisher ! as ware 
As potter's ware is dash'd to pieces so 
These all were dash'd to pieces ; down they fell 
Down to the last foundation with a crash 
That deafen'd all the universe and all 
The Fallen deafen'd so thereafter they 
Heard never any more, even the Trump 
Of Resurrection fail'd, and now were God's 900 

Own Throne (which is impossible,) to fall 
And with it all creation they would hear 
Nothing their ears so dunch, what wonder then 
That mine % but thou O Muse hast more than made 
Amends, nor with that Phrygian king who had 
Egregious ears and whatsoe'er he touched 
Turn'd into gold, no not with him for all 
That would 1 now exchange ; Pactolus rolls 
Over the shining sand and that alone 
Sustains his memory whilst mine shall last 910 

When Pactolus no more ; I hear even 
Better than he and no Silenus brought 

g g 2 



452 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

In welcome to my fire but — O what grace ! 
Thee, goddess thee ! who the Thrymbrsean god 
In music far excellest. 

Thus God waged 
His warfare that dread day absolving Fear 
Of all offences, cumbering the wide 
Hell with no thing but ruin, this the last 
The greatest by such forceful arguments 920 

As none thought any had : O then that crew — 
That wretched crew so long so self-deceived 
Straight-bolted-up their hair all in excess 
Of frenzy horrible, the mighty dead 
Yet dead not, unconsumeable, saw God 
Ent'ring at will and violating all 
The scragg'd saturnine shrines, o'erturning all 
Unto the last in which upon his throne 
His Hater seated held : then Second Death 
No more thought of him or would fain no more 930 
Think of him for a prey lest he should make 
Him in despite all his unmeasur'd heads 
And all his others as unmeasur'd and 
Worse than those heads his prey : O spectacle 
Sublime ! that great Arch-gerent residence 
Keeping like God ; thunders to him no more 
Nor lightnings were, the last — last priceless one 



IN HELL. 453 

Delib'rately he spent before he put 

Within his fortress foot ; O how he then 

Regretted Chaos lost the whole now turned 940 

With such effect right round, aye those he made 

In all his lustihood as soon he fell 

The moment that he fell ere he one hair's- 

Breadth in his stature fell whilst yet he was 

That name that stood for Lucifer, or yet 

If not scarce Lucifer ; O if he those 

Had brought full-handed at the first against 

Jehovah he were then he thought upon 

Jehovah's not that scorn'd that sinking throne, 

There was he left deserted, yet when he 950 

Look'd on The Face of God he blew a breath 

Most bilious : blow Libecchio in the teeth, 

Spit at the sun ; for then I saw a Groan 

In mourning infinite, an awful Groan, 

Blindness made up unto her as if he 

Would seize all her red-bloodshot bleeding but 

Torch'd tearless eyes ; she — terror-proof to all 

She saw ere she saw God, Avhen God she heard 

Rattling, when God she saw no more endured 

But moaning offer'd Lucifer, hoarseful 960 

With rage he turn'd suppressing, ne'ertheless 

Into his heart she crept through all his wounds,- 



454 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Into the secret heart sorely aggrieved : 

" And now relate nor droop, the iron strings 

Strike thou," Calliope thus calls, " the iron 

And all the iron strings ; strike them at once 

And mighty strike them now, or all the reeds 

In all the rivers for another name 

Shall change the old, some vain reviewer near 

Eelating," O forbid, O Muse ! forbid 970 

Me Zoilus : strike thou ! Ah ! unto what 

Had Lucifer aspir'd'? Jehovah paused 

Abstaining as surpris'd, admiring or 

Wond'ring that any so collected could 

As he receive Him ; all the hoary white 

And blacken'd arlablasters that He grasped 

Within the high right-hand, reverberate 

Thunder, and lightning lanc'd, shafts, steels and darts, 

Arrows and spears, bark'd bolts and all that looked 

Like scoring scourges, all God dropp'd and all 980 

God took unto Him that beside were arms 

Offensive all thrown down and all God wore 

(So Muse we thought,) helm plum'd, and breastplate and 

O that magnific shield that by His side 

Blaz'd like three blazing suns all disappeared 

And God before the Great Arch-anarch stood 

In the uncover'd Person ; Evil saw 



IN HELL. 455 

Its evil in astonishment that left 

All other at a distance, turn'd against 

That Lucifer her woe-gone eyes, her nails, 990 

Her teeth canine, whilst that afflicted sprite 

That burrow'd in his heart ten thousand stumps 

Uplifting in her horror rent it to 

As many pieces ; he in silence fell 

His eyes like burning coals and all his limbs 

Eternally unhing'd : O ! who that Face 

Could see and live'? transcendent majesty 

And might so magnified as none may dare 

Depict, and lumination none could stand : 

The roaring of the Hon and the voice 1000 

Of the fierce lion, and the lion's jaws 

Were broken His the strength, brought then to light 

The shadow e'en of Death so that he seemed 

Vile in the sight, all other might put out 

By this : O King of Terrors ! where was then 

Thine or that monarch's confidence ? as beasts 

Were ye accounted, hunger-bitten all 

Your boasted Blasphemies, Destruction at 

The side with the sure besom ; that used he 

Through Pandemonium before him chased 1010 

The wicked, all the blowing blasts outsped ; 

Millions of millions, all the shudd'ring sprites, 



4:56 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

The sinners, all the satirists of God 

God help'd and put before him, Chaos last 

Made Chaos on them heap'd, hell gorging full 

And overfull with ruin, all the gloom 

Of hell condens'd together, all the fires 

Condensing drove upon them in unknown 

Unqualified quantity ; for nought 

They thought to fly they more than fled they ne'er 1020 

Had fled so fleet had God not added to 

All their own proper wings ten others each 

One fleeter than the whole, nor rank was kept, 

Nor one of them fell out, none interposed, 

None neighbour'd there was something burning aft 

Burning so close behind yea closer than 

A ploughshare, hell a hillock overturned 

Unto the base ; thus altogether put 

The hold of Lucifer the king, and all 

The ponderosities of hell beside, 1030 

Hell — Wrath too vomited their entrails out 

Upon them and supreme Revenge as well 

With unrelenting fury set upon 

Their back deep fleshing all her iron claws, 

He smote them straight beyond unto a Pit 

Without a bottom ; Blank look'd blank when o'er 

The edging edge she look'd her senses gone 



IN HELL. 457 

Eddying, and the foremost angels who 

Kenn'd that stopp'd short arresting by that stop 

Necessity herself, a thund'rous sound 1040 

Was hers unknowing what compell'd, and first 

To her amaze compell'd, but who the will 

Or what the might of the potential God 

Shall balance ] to that fathomless by word 

Air-emptied infinity, O ! no 

Something beyond beyond wherein if God 

Had ever been He was not, and would ne'er 

Be evermore, unto the core of all 

The nethermost abysses, lorn of light, 

Filled with quenchless fire to Destiny 1050 

Imperative she points, a tragic sound 

One long appealing groan, then dark and deep 

All the rebellious went instant down, 

Perdition, Panic, Pain, Plague, Pestilence 

Worse looking than worst Famine, Loathesomeness 

That made mute Misery and freckled Vice 

Look healthful, Putrefaction, Darkness set 

On fire of Hell phosphoric, Hell also, 

Typhurgo with a more than hellish shape 

Gore-distillating — scowling, Hurricane lOb'O 

Gone to the climax, Enmity its own 

Brain gnawing, grissly baleful Battle, Fear, 



458 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Folly, Fury, Alarm, Hate, Hopelessness, 

Madness that would have shriek'd, Woe — in the wake 

Wonder, Thunder, Dismay, Damnation, Blast, 

Blasphemy, Error, Undelight, Tumult — 

Cower'd, Crime, Guilt, Pride down they went, their forms 

Unform'd for ever, and with all his crew 

Great God's Adversary, Attainter, and 

Derider yet not ended, in his hands 1070 

His battle-axe, remorseless, in distinct 

Defiance, dark, stonily fix'd his eyes 

If woe-struck, he the last, the Last, and those 

God found not written in the Book of Life, 

The fearful, and the unbelieving, the 

Abominable, murderers, and the 

Whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters 

And liars, The Undying Worm and all 

The misbegotten had same time their part 

In that great final gulfing in the Lake 1080 

Of brimstone-fire : then God a wondrous seal — 

Originally made for matter when 

Matter was first created and for mind 

When mind, this seal God took and with twelve times 

Twelve thousand thunders — all that were unused, 

Drove it inviolable o'er their heads 

Fixation sure attesting. 



IN HELL. 459 

Thus these wars 
Were finish'd : God his cerule chariot turned 
Triumphant back, diffus'd celestial day — 1090 

Which brush'd to brightest all the golden zones, 
And love omnific ; all the glorious gates 
Of hallow'd heaven thrown open to receive 
The King, The Conqueror, The First Begot 
And Prince of all the powers in earth and heaven, 
With acclamation all His hasting hosts 
Shouting " Ye worlds! ye worlds join, join with us! 
Glory, praise, power, dominion unto Him ; 
Salvation now is come, O heavens rejoice 
Thou first," they ent'ring sung " Captivity 1100 

Is captive ; O thou earth fear God and give 
To Him the glory ; God the King of saints ! 
Who shall not fear and glorify Thy Name ] 
Thy judgments now are manifest ; rejoice 
Prophets and ye apostles :" thus they sung 
Through all the six bless'd heavens that yet the youth 
Untainted kept, " O alleluia, God 
Omnipotent reigneth and he shall reign 
Ever and ever." 

Now whilst all these passed 1110 

As reckon'd by mankind long centuries 
Appear'd to lag and loiter, to the Jews 



460 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Calamitous exceeding since the Lord 

His life laid down — for power had He to lay 

And power to take it up as at the end 

Of three short days the blessed Saviour did : 

Dating from that their miserable tale 

Through civil strife and massacre to war 

Upon them by the eagles Titus loosed 

From Tibur, desolation as the world 1120 

Ne'er saw before nor since was Salem's, all 

Her children sold, such as surviv'd dispersed 

A bye-word to the nations : then was Rome 

Mistress to Gaul — where they Adgistis and 

Euris ador'd, unto the farther isles 

Where bearded Druids mystic empire held 

And under old gnarl'd oaks their system taught 

To the initiate ; or from the Seven 

Hills passing eastward to the Indus she 

Claim'd all the swamps of Babylon, the pools 1130 

And solitary sites that Nineve 

Still owned with the lynx to Susa where 

The truthful prophet lies foretold the whole : 

Thus Rome that in her catalogue great names 

Of ancient empire for her property 

Stood, — 'yond administration, so rul'd she 

Calling herself " Eternal : " so they thought 




THE CRUCIFIXION 



IN HELL. 461 

Their kingdom the fond Pharoas, all their dead 

Embalming : where is Rome ? in vain we look, 

Foxes have gleer'd from out the casements wide 1140 

Of the palatinate, wolves prowl'd the courts 

Or in them litter'd, through the circus dogs 

The Campus Martius and suburra packed 

Hunted as wild, and where Maecenas strolled — 

Augustus ; prostrate shafts the portico 

The capitol encumber 'd, fallen roofs 

Strewn all the way ; o'er the Tarpeian tower 

The vultures and within the sanctuaries 

Hatching polluted ; marble ruins tilled 

The senatorium, and foetid pools 1150 

The fair Campagna — all the villas fallen : 

And where the gods 1 from all the kingdoms round 

That Roma peel'd, of Migdol the Sabaean 

Bel boweth down, Nebo is stoop'd together ; 

Ophion and Eurynome and Ops, 

Zeus by the Pelasgian poets feigned, 

And others older ere the Pleiades quired 

Or Hebon burning for Irene froze 

Diceos forlorn, where they Ephaistos taught ? 

The cave — the country Egyaleus swayed 1 L60 

Remain, and where Minerva rul'd a town 

Riseth but not the Parthenon ; now none 



462 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

To Eleusina seek, hierophants 

None there the myst'ries wait nor Ceres' — who 

Kindling a torch from iEtna through the world 

For her lost daughter roam'd : the oracles 

Are dumb, a mightier than Alcides hath 

The Delphian tripod seiz'd : no temple now 

Elide adorns — where Jupiter's once stood 

Wave the rank reeds, no statuary carves 1170 

His images Another in that place 

Is found nor there alone, where'er the sun 

Shines unto Jesus orisons arise 

And vespers with the moon in languages 

Unknown to the Phoenician and as old — 

Some as the Attic sweet where Owhyee 

The halcyon-ocean studs : and Grsecia's gods 

All, all are gone ! no more th' Olympians now 

Disguis'd on love or lust or war the earth 

Wander; upon Mount Latmus Luna see 1180 

But no Diana to her shepherd boy 

Steals secret on the beam ; the Paphian bower 

Runs wild none off'ring doves unto the dame 

The last of all deserted by her crowd 

Of lovers ; Pallas no Theoricons 

Honour ; (Eneides none ; Cecropides 

Leontides, Antiochides nor those 



IN HELL. 463 

Grave Panathees are kept ; no archon-king 

Votes now the olive or the laurel crown ; 

Erigone no orgies hath observed 1190 

The vot'ries jolly drunk, or at the fetes 

Scierian ; Hecate under the lote tree 

None : where Zamolxis, Mithra, Karedwen 

The Arkite goddess, Cambdos, Chronos, where 

Him that they serv'd at Denderah, O where \ 

The Echo answers " Where 1 ?" the penates gone 

Even the noble from the plough'd up hearths 

Of the patricians ; stern Fabricius, 

Curius or Scipio none claim for kin ; 

Julius is but a name, his line extinct 1200 

Like theirs : no lemurs where th' unburied lie 

Proscrib'd now flit : Erynnys there are none, 

No Atropos with shears, no altars smoke 

Augurs at hand, libations none are poured 

Nor victims bled in sacrifice to gods 

Long since prov'd false ; even the Nilus herd 

By the triumvir brought, Sate, Isis, 

Myrionymnia, Phthah and numbers more — 

Configurate dualities abstract, 

And quantities unknown but to the priest L210 

Well-learn'd from Asmodeans, are depart, 

Their shrines oerturn'd, their imag'd chambers used 



464 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

E'en for the lime kilns. — For God's anger was 

Arous'd against them to destroy all, all ; 

Howl'd those who serv'd for the destruction come, 

Hearts melted, fear and sorrow, pangs and pains 

As when a woman travaileth upon 

Them came : now doleful creatures occupy 

Their houses, owls and dragons use them all : 

This God hath wrought the lustrals pouring out 1220 

Cleansing where Roma rul'd. 

The Crescent pales 
O'er the Osmanlis ling'ring on permiss 
The Antichrist in Mahomet undone : 
Eternal horror his and silence like 
The dead, no conclamation rais'd no friend 
Attends his sordid couch, so let him die — 
So let him perish he that wasted earth, 
Warring against the witnesses : O all 
Ye birds that fly gather yourselves together 1230 

That ye his flesh may eat. 

Thus is the Faith 
Gone forth through Negroland, Niger hath heard 
Along the banks so that the idols e'en 
Of Barbary nod and the diviners there 
Diviner light espy than Thales or 
Zeno discuss'd : these are the heathen by 



IN HELL. 465 

The haughty Rabbins call'd — who talmuds forged 

And multiplied cabbala scarce worth 

The ethical philosophies of Stoa, 1240 

Now valueless the whole since Light and Life 

Are by the Word of God unto us come ; 

Therein we find " Republic," so to speak, 

Than Plato's happier, high and low alike, 

Learn'd and unlearn'd, the monarch and his slave 

Before Jehovah who hath equall'd all ; 

Nor that " Utopia" fram'd so well adroit 

In Atalantis by ingenious mind, 

Compare with the inheritance of saints ; 

Nor those the Gnostic, nor the paradise 1250 

"With fleshy houri fill'd. Those earthquake torn 

In early ages from the olden world, 

From the rude Esquimaux's and those Red tribes 

Once masters unto Mexico, thence to 

Magellan's Straits, by lying spirits all 

Reduc'd, what viols theirs ! The far Chinese 

From wide Birman unto Thibet, and thence 

The soft Mantchou's, with all the Islanders 

From Horn to Comorin and Cape of Hope 

Idols ador'd and terrible their plagues. 1260 

But one remains, an empire vast — as yet 

O Muse ! unsung, where Brahma and Veeshnu, 

H H 



466 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Soeva, Lutzmee, with heads, breasts, arms and legs 
Strange multiplied the simple ones deceived ; 
She too whose gates long ages since were borne 
As trophies to Ghuznee, her mansion razed 
By the fierce conq'ror ; from his tomb renowned 
Despoil'd those portals they return but who 
Receives % Somnauth's no more, her priests are dead, 
Her name well-nigh forgotten; Juggernauth 1270 

Greatest of all detestable what time 
His car in festival, but he is fled 
Who him informed, the Peninsula 
Is freed from his cognominates as well, 
What o'er the universal earth remains 
Of idol gods is but the senseless form 
And blank mortalities and skeleton things. 
Thou too, O Ephesus ! so glorious once, 
So planted thou and Smyrna, Pergamos 
And Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelph 1280 

And Laodicea, ye churches Seven 
How were your candlesticks remov'd ! so long 
As ye the word of patience and first love 
To Christ observ'd and kept what light was yours ! 
And now with such apostates from them both 
These periods through, your judgments ! Christendom 
Behold their ruins. 



IN HELL. 467 

Now that other theme 
The last, the dearest ; from decaying shades 
The day-spring dawns millenial and our Star 1290 

Serenely rising peace and plenty brings : 
The arbitress of times and seasons, sure 
In God's eternal providence, enthroned 
Sits England the supreme, magnific, lone : 
Queen of the West her arts her arms prevail, 
Her governmental unities are fixed 
From Bheerings to The States — her daughters these 
If rustic comely ; thence Columbia through 
The lengthning whole who asketh or desires 
What doest thou'? not one but all observe 1300 

And honour if obey not Albion — Queen : 
Queen of the East she rules, from all the mouths 
Of Gunga gathering her merchant fleets — 
Richer than those in Ezion-geber built 
Trading to Ophir, to her palac'd heart 
Calcutta ; by her will alone the Lords 
Of Ava, Assam hold, Caubul, Nepaul ; 
Wild though he be that Issachar he rounds 
His neck and loves Britannia's queenly hand, 
Whilst Ali craving to her offers Suez 1310 

For but a smile ; impotent Turkey hands 
Jerusalem's keys protesting that the time 

h h 2 



468 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Should come when Christians on Islam wait 

For pity's sake in the expiring need, 

But as she sinks " O England ! who but thee 

Can any trust?" cries she, " my testament 

O thou magnanimous ! be thine alone : " 

Now the celestial cities open stand 

Wide by invictrix Britain's armies thrown, 

Great tribute offer'd; he who claims the sun 1320 

His brother to the deaf Tartarian gods 

Cried to save him, One above them rules 

Who nerv'd our arm and victory ordained. 

Queen of the North, the South, th' admiring world 

For wisdom to her cometh and for grace, 

And finds beatitude within her arms ; 

Her trophies fill the world, her martial airs 

Follow the hours through the engirdled earth 

Continual so that no sun rise hath she, 

No setting: Spine of government and Axe 1330 

Of state she all upholdeth : cease O earth ! 

Fear for the future, Fortune 's Albion's own 

Fate, she Napoleon fell'd, greater than he 

A son she bore nor more shall wanting lack 

Like Wellington through ages, mighty ones 

Shall bear her banner, arrogance shall cease 

The haughty in her presence bondmen they 



IN HELL. 469 

Bondwomen all their princesses, the staff 

Of all the satraps broken, the nabobs [1340 

Hurl'd from their thrones and all their pomp brought low 

Which shook the nations and destroy 'd mankind. 

Thus in her house for ever she shall dwell 

Filling the world with cities, thousands now 

She buildeth, branching like our native oak 

Throng'd with green leaves and fruit and meat for all ; 

Shining abroad, she gath'reth corn; olives 

And grapes in all her borders they abound. 

Crown'd Queen ! O let the loving Muses hail 
Victoria! thy great name : Urania! stars 
Worn in thy diadem as bright adorn 1350 

Augusta's ! thou Calliope who — when 
The lightnings sing'd my auburn locks, to me 
Long life and honour promis'd if I placed 
Her name above the sacrilegious reach 
Of Time, 'tis done ! now goddess at her feet 
Write thou in joy and gladness, all her plebs 
Killing fat beeves and sheep and eating flesh 
And drinking wine, and of her revenues 
Gold — silver reckon'd stones, jewels and horse 
And chariots numberless, of finest flour, 1360 

Harts, fowls her servants eating, every liege 
Under his vine and fig tree ; princes wait 



470 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Crowding around her, kings unto them sought 

For favour off'ring gifts of costly gerns, 

Collars of finest gold with cunninge wrought 

Invaluable ; all her towns are like 

Great palaces, and nothing wants where'er 

She turns the ready eye ; no officers 

Our Empress needs too happy they who run. 

Her fame in all the nations, wise and just 1370 

In government with fortitude of soul, 

Firmness and temperance, severely great 

In manner, lov'd her country, all the steps 

Of her resort with embassies are thick 

From the white-headed Sclave unto the Moor 

Turban'd : thus God hath her establish'd and 

Delighting in her for the throne rais'd up 

Her heritors ; her halls the voices ring 

Of the young Caesar and the royal seed 

Unto her and her princely Consort given, 1380 

These ne'er shall fail a trusty buckler theirs 

Stronger than Vulcan for iEneas forged, 

Unto them a palladium none can steal, 

Integrity of heart, uprightness in 

Their way, so these their children she shall see 

Rejoicing as their mother, all the Land 

Also with her rejoicing. Muse divine ! 



IN HELL. 471 

No task I set, long years do thou attend 

That footstool, on thy tablets close inscribed 

Her acts, her deeds, in war, in peace no room 1390 

Leaving innumerable they : write thou 

For far posterities with diamond point 

Recording first — O let me first in hand 

Upon thy book fondly her name inscribe, 

" Victoria reigns!" Victoria reigns, now write, 

Thereafter, that her hill is as the hill 

Of Bashan, that her enemies on the head 

Were wounded and the tongues of dogs lick'd up 

Their blood ; and grace upon thy pages pour — 

Her garments smell of cassia and myrrh, 1400 

Her clothing of wrought gold and needlework 

Most excellent, and many her desired 

For her rare beauty : and O thou before 

Invok'd, Religion ! thou our Diva bless 

Perpetual at her side ; short time devout 

Thy neophyte yet claims but sound of War 

No more our care now let thy sacred voice 

In consummation come : Vengeance and ye 

Whom once I calFd infernals ! all your prints 

Made on the airs of heaven, the brine of sea, 1410 

Nearly effac'd although they be I charge 

Come hither hither all the traces left 



472 THE WARS OF JEHOVAH 

Of the fallen angels, Nephilim, or men, 

Shadows surviving though to tatters torn 

In God's great indignation : — with thine arm 

Religion ! from the face of earth do thou 

Sweep them for ever ; let the limbs of Death 

Strewn o'er the land the waves when Christ he fled 

Affright, upon the winds tramundane speed 

Calcin'd to ashes ; Night in vain her shade 1420 

We call, invisible — if it exist; 

And The Undying Worm with all his breed 

Seal'd up with Hell remain ever and aye 

Wither'd to nothing : now th' historian bless 

Hope ! Faith ! and thou before — before them both 

Thy sisters, Charity ! these dreadful wars 

Inditing — what to them the woes of Troy % 

Much failure needs must be, no carol mine 

(The suns fell down the while,) O but for Thou 

Who Throneth in the Heaven of heaven, Lord God! 

Almighty! Thou! Thy celebrator were [1430 

Annihilated : if my sounding lyre 

Over the dawning worlds were heard such time 

As the Arch-gerent Lucifer in pride 

Levied against Thy Majesty with loathe 

Recording his depravities — O Thou ! 

Who judgeth hearts and trieth all the reins 



IN HELL. 473 

Of men, in mourning, of the soul before 

Thy Throne Thy lyrist stood : Supreme art Thou 

Long while I waited for the Lord, behold ! 1440 

The terrible reversal, Death and Hell 

Shut up : mourning for gladness chang'd the times 

Of the refreshing from Thy Throne are come, 

After the rain it shineth and the earth 

Her youth renewing now let grateful song 

Mount up to heaven and every kindred, tongue 

And people choral join: glorious day 

Of resurrection for a buried world ! 

The sound of wings of cherubim are heard 

The glorious companies aforetime seen 1450 

In Mahanaim ! God's ladder is replaced 

Reaching to heaven. O Thou in Glory crowned ! 

Now let Thy servant Lord ! in peace depart, 

I fall before Thee O Thou King of saints ! 

Adoring : Thou who saidst to Gabriel from 

The banks of Ulai, " Make him understand," 

Deign to receive my harp ; its strings attuned 

Fit for the song of Moses and the Lamb 

let it be 'till with a spirit's hand 

1 strike in heaven, Jehovah crown'd The King 1460 
Of kings for ever and The Lord of lords, 

FINIS. 



SOME OF THE IMAGES, WITH THE PROPER NAMES 



IN THIS EPIC POEM. 



Mgeria, 5 
iEolian, 6 
jEschylus, 40 
jEtolian, 69, 271 
JEthiop, 79 
^Eolus, 84 
^Etnean, 140 
iEgean, 163 
Mneas, 188, 470 
^Esculapian, 274 
JEelcus, 289 
Mgle, 294 
^Egyptian, 295 
jEgyptia, 336 
jEschyle, 380 
^Etna, 462 
Actaeon, 49 
Acrizius, 322 
Actea, 322 
Abel, 338 
Adamic, 342 
Acheron, 80, 345 
Adsch, 346 
Achad, 367 
Abram, 368 
Abyssinia, 107 
Aaron, 369 
Abimeleck, 372 
Abdon, 372 
Adorations, 323 
Adsherac, 396 
Acostras, 255 
Achiles, 258 
Absyrtus, 261 
Accandrar, 271 
Acheron, 288 
Adam, 48, 300 



Adamites, 300 
Adonis, 312 
Adonai, 313 
Achaia, 317 
Achaian, 70 
Acarynthimos, 122 
Adrastus, 143 
Admetus, 162 
Abysm, 170, 244 
Abhorrence, 176 
Acer, 191 
Ades, 6 
Achilles, 7 
Adramelec, 14 
Adrian, Mole of, 16 
Acanthian, ] 6 
Abaddona, 37 
Adorants, 56 
Agra, 8 
Aglope, 49 
Ajax, 75 
Ahithopel, 89 
Agamemnon, 117 
Air, 117 
Ail, eternal, 157 
Agafrimenos, 271 
Agiphine, 271 
Aganippe, 304 
Agave, 318 
Aglaia, 322 
Agag, 373 
Ahaz, 374, 377 
Ahaziah, 374 
Ahijah, 377 
Ahriman, 378 
Ahasuerus, 381 
Affrac, 396 
Aceldama, 433 



Adgistis, 460 
Alia, 322 
Alcumena, 322 
Aladdin, 332 
Alexander, 113, 376 
Alba-longa, 381 
Alessine, 421 
Alarm, 458 
Albion, 162, 467 
Ali, 467 
Alp, 272 
Alaric, 275 
Alcinous, 132 
Alban, 156 
Alyattes, 169 
Allia, river, 206 
Albericus, 16 
Alcides, 46, 191, 263 
Alecto, 58 
Almonides, 191 
Amanane, 16 
Amycus, 50 
Ammon, 85, 373, 379 
Amy clean, 98 
Amphiaraiis, 115 
Amazonians, 125 
American, 128 
Amphon, 192 
Amphictions, 234 
Amphitrite, 303 
Amalthean, 304 
Amran, 311 
Amphinome, 317 
Amatheia, 317 
Ampithoe, 317 
Amalec, 370 
Anion, 37.") 
Amos, .">77 



476 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Amenophis, 381 
Amana, 408 

Amphitryon, son of, 433 
Amaziah, 374 
Antiope, 319 
Antigone, 337 
Ananim, 367 
Anubis, 368 
Antiochus, 376 
Antiochides, 462 
Antichrist, The, 464 
Antinous, 251 
Antwerp, 252 
Antilles, 100 
Antrashing, 190 
Andromeda, 241 
Andes, 10 
Antaeus, 43 
Ancaeus, 66 
Antisan, 69 
Aphrodite, 321 
Apseudes, 317 
Apollyon, 2, 14, &c. 
Apollo, 18, 121 
Apennines, 135 
Aphorotine, 152 
Aphrasac, 225, 342 
Apelles, 322 
Apollodorus, 385 
Apthos, 421 
Arcturus, 246 
Argos, 322 
Arabic, 333 
Aristarchus, 342 
Ararat, 363 
Arach, 367 
Arphaxad, 368 
Arad, 371 
Arnon, 371 
Ar, 371 

Aristobulus, 376 
Armenia, 377 
Arbaces, 379 
Aristophanes, 380 
Aristotle, 383 
Aristippus, 383 
Arctic, 389 
Armageddon, 444 
Arkite goddess, 463 
Archimedes, 250 
Arges, 254 
Argestes, 266 
Arethuse, 304 
Arcadians, 312 
Archimedians, 80 



Armada, 91 
Argus, 136 
Areon, 152 
Archer, The, 164 
Argive, 188 
Araxes, 206 
Aricon, 219 
Arioch, 37 
Assyrian, 15, 324 
Asia, 15 
Asmodai, 37 
Aspathyn, 151 
Aspramont, 156 
Astonishings, 184 
Astrachan, 185 
Ashdod, 290 
Askalon, 290 
Astyoche, 313 
Astraeus, 330 
Asrac, 344 
Assur, 367 
Ascenaz, 367 
Ashtaroth, 372 
Asa, 374 
Asaph, 377 
Ashima, 378 
Ashoron, 421 
Asmodeans, 463 
Assam, 467 
Aquilon, 389 
Athos, 368 
Attic, 462 
Atropos, 463 
Athens, 112, 261, 382 
Atlantic, 33, 262 
Atrine, 278 
Atlas, 134, 290 
Atalanta, 313 
Athos, 135 
Athcoron, 190 
Atoncryntal, 223, 342 
Atys, 27 
Attica, 36 
Athamas, 49 
Ate, 59 
Auster, 35 
Aulis, 70 
Austrian, 114 
Australasia, 134 
Aurora, 136, 296 
Augusta, 163, 297 
Autolycus, 192 
Autopsia, 380 
Augustus, 461 
Ava, 375, 381, 467 



Avernian, 76, 295 
Avalon, 161 
Awatska, 232 
Azazeel, 116 
Azariah, 377 
Azrael, 6 

B 

Baal, 15, 372, &c. 
Babylonia, 17 
Basan, 48, 471 
Balearic, 72 
Bacchantic, 75 
Barmecide, 100 
Battle, 117, 457 
Baldwin, 156 
Balance, The, 164 
Baltic, 231 
Bactriana, 248 
Babylon, 275 
Barachos, 278 
Bacchic tigers, 295 
Baruk, 366 
Babel, 367, 375 
Banoth, 371 
Baal-peor, 371 
Baal-gad, 372 
Balaam, 372 
Baasha, 374 
Barbary, 382 
Beethoven, 189 
Beer, 371 
Bezek, 372 

Bethlehem- Jud ah, 372 
Bethel, 374 
Benjamin, 376 
Belus, 378 
Belshazzar, 379 
Bereashith, Book, 384 
Bether, Mountains of, 409 
Bethsaida, 410 
Bel, 25, 461 
Bellona, 73 
Belial, 297 
Bellerophon, 302 
Beelzebub, 348, 410 
Berenice, 351 
Bithynian, 251 
Birman, 465 
Biscayan, 122 
Blanc, Mount, 249 
Black Sea, 183 
Blasphemy, 190, 458 
Blank, 231, 456 
Blackness, 431 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES, 



477 



Blast, 458 

Bheering's Straits, 467 

Bcetian Thebes, 329 

Boaz, 372 

Bottomless Pit, The. 

414 
Book of Remembrance. 

423 
Bozra, 451 
Book of Life, 458 
Borean, 56 
Boreal, 81 
Bourbon, 275 
Brutus, 13 
Britons, 13 
Briaraean, 46 
Britishers, 128 
Brocken, 134 
Brennus, 206 
Brontes, 254 
Brito, 296 
Bresils, 310 
Brahma, 465 
Britannia, 467 
Buckland, 310 
Burn, 292 
Busiris, 260, 370 
BufFon, 319 
Byzantine, 433 
Byzantium, 177 



Calcabrina, 345 
Cainan, 355 
Canaan, 371 
Caherman, 378 
Calca, 381 
Calcas, 385 
Carisenda, 392 
Cacus, 397 
Capernaum, 410 
Callimachus, 419 
Caryatides, 420 
Campagna, The, 461 
Cambdos, 463 
Cape of Hope, 231, 465 
Calcutta, 467 
Caubul, 467 
Caesar, The young, 470 
Caesar, 13, 207, 341 
Cassius, 13 
Caracalla, 13 
Calysto, 16 
Cataline, 29 
Cadmus, 49, 254 



Cambodian, 124 
Calliope, 125, &c. 
Canace, 133 
Carnatic, 133 
Care, 141, 244 
Canis, 164 
Cayster, 185 
Castor, 192 
Cain, 230 
Caligula, 233 
Capitoline, 234 
Castilian King, 247 
Callirhoe, 254 
Caurus, 260 
Calais, 266 
Caucasus, 275 
Campanian, 288 
Cairo, 295 
Caledonia, 297 
Callianira, 303 
Carthage, 316 
Cato, 316 
Callianassa, 317 
Calepine, Sir, 329 
Cain, 338 
Cainites, 340 
Cecropides, 462 
Ceuta, 262 
Ceres, 266, 315, 462 
Cephalus, 332 
Cercyon, 191 
Cercopian, 39 
Celtic, 41 
Centaurians, 41 
Ceto, 43 
Cerberus, 50 
Chimaeras, 50 
Chorazin, 410 
Charity, 472 
Christians, 468 
Christendom, 466 
Chronos, 463 
Chinese, 381, 465 
Chosroes, 379 
Chaldee, 378 
Chemosh, 373 
Chettim, 367 
Chasluhim, 367 
Chale, 367 
Chalanne, 367 
Chanaan, 366 
Chus, 366 
Cham, 358 
Chaos, 2 
Chilian, 16 



Charybdis, 46 
Cholchians, 59 
Choraebus, 70 
China, 81 
Charlemagne, 156 
Chance, 90, 244 
Christ, 127, 315 
Cherphi), 148 
Charsathon, 152 
Chaonian, 185 
Chien-tien, 189 
Chrysaor, 254 
Chiron, 264 
Chian, 315 
Ciampolo, 62 
Cinyras, 251 
Circe, 187 
Circassians, 121 
Cidli, 365 
Citheron, 380 

Cicero, 382 

Cimmerian, 246 

Cinna, 419 

Clymene, 104, 241 

Clares, 25 

Clarence, 115 

Clio, 117, 259, &c. 

Clamour, 126, 244 

Clotho, 330 

Conflict, 140, 244 

Corynetes, 260 

Constantinopolis, 275 

Conscience, 286 

Corybantes, 313 

Corinth, bronze of, 146 

Confusion, 186, 244 

Coliseum, 287 

Corybantes, 218 

Copiabo, 10 

Copae, 22 

Corinthus, 46 

Conquest, 77 

Cotopax, 83 

Cortez, 98 

Columbia, 98, 467 

Contempt, 115 

Cocytus, 122 

Corruption, 365 

Confusion, 416 

Comorin, 165 

Coelus, 275 

Croastor, 88 

Crete, 252, 381 

Crothor, 278 

Cretan, 320 



478 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Cromyon sow, 149 
Croesus, 182, 381 
Crimenos, 191 
Craeus, 192 
Crime, 196 
Cretan, 218 
Cromwell, 39 
Crescent, The, 75, 464 
Crime, 458 
Cneph, 25, 380 
Cumean, 348 
Cuthah, 375 
Cusco, 15 
Cupid, 18 
Cuba, 204 
Curetes, 313 
Curds, 336 
Cyllenius, 184 
Cybele, 218 
Cyrenaic sect, 85, 218 
Cygneans, 29 
Cyanean, 43 
Cyclopean, 108, 353 
Cynocephalus, 368 
Cyrus, 376 
Cyaxares, 379, 381 
Cymbeline, 424 
Cyclop, 250 
Cyrrha's grot, 297 
Cymodoce, 303 
Cymothoe, 303 
Cybele, 312 
Cythera, 317 
Cyprian, 322 
Cycladean, 332 
Cyreanites, 340 



Dagon's feast, 290 

Damnation, 292 

Dardanian, 297 

Dane, 326 

Daphne, 332 

David, 373 

Dan, 374 

Daniel, 377 

Darius, 113, 379 

Darkness, 17, 144, 164 

Danae, 45 

Damien, 61 

Dante, 62, 430 

Danaians, 92 

Day, god of, 104 

Damascus, 156 

Day of Doom, 186, 241 



Darfour, 213 
Darpathrus, 214 
Danton, 215 
Dardans, 217 
Daedalus, 99 
Delhi, 9 

Death, 42, 130, &c. 
Death the Second, 446 
Destiny, 50, 290, &c. 
Delos, 67 

Destruction, 116,151, &c. 
Dejanira, 132 
Despair, 141, 146, &c. 
Delphic, 142 
Deep, 144 

Demogorgon, 181, 275 
Deformity, 254 
Deadness, 264 
Delphian, 290, 462 
Dexamene, 303 
Desire, 318 
Desires, 323 
Delia, 323 
Desolation, 334, 431 
Deucalion, 363 
Deccan, 364 
Deborah, 372 
Delilah, 373 
Demruth-dive, 378 
Demiurgus, 380 
Dejoces, 381 
Democritus, 382 
Demosthenes, 385 
Denderah, 463 
Discord, 244 
Dira, 289 
Disorder, 309 
Dido, 332 
Diospolis, 337 
Dismay, 458 
Diceos, 461 
Diana, 25, 462 
Diva, 5, 471 
Dis, 6 
Dirae, 50 
Diomed, 68 
Dismay, 149 
Dieman's Land, 174 
Dinocrates, 177 
Diocletian, 204 
Doab, 17 
Dorian, 25 
Doriscus, 78 
Dodonian, 241, 255 
Doris, 241 



Doto, 303 
Dodonaim, 367 
Druidical, 15 
Dread, 244 
Dross, 244 
Dryas, 253 
Draco, 263, 383 
Dremos, 278 
Dryads, 303 
Druids, 460 
Dusk, 244 
Dyname, 316 

E 

Earth, 6, 42, 313, 323 

Eber, 367 

Eblis, halls of, 135 

Echionian Thebes, 60 

Echinades, 167 

Ecbatan, 381 

Echoes, 438 

Echidna, 254 

Eden, 337 

Edom, 248, 371, 377 

Edomite, Herod the, 377 

Edda, 58 

Edfou, 106 

Egyaleus, 461 

Egypt, 368 

Ehud, 372 

Ekiel, 14, &c. 

Ekron, 290 

Elis, 104 

Electra, 254 

Electryon, 260 

Elf-land, 318 

Eloo trees, 333 

Elements, The, 344 

Elisa, 367 

Elim, 370 

Elon, 372 

Eli, 373 

Elah, 374 

Elisha, 374 

Eliakim, 375 

Eliashib, 376 

Elijah, 377 

Eleusina, 380, 462 

Elephanta, 381 

Eloa, 386 

Elysian, 5 

Elora, 25 

Eleutherian, 26 

Elishan, 73 

Eleian field, HO 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



479 



Elba, 166 
Eleusis, 191 
Elohim, 244, 311, &c. 
Empire, 151 
England, 59, 297, 467 
Enceladus, 76 
Envy, 77 
Endymion, 251 
Ennius, 383 
En-gedi, 387 
Enyo, 433 

Endor, Witch of, 344 
Enos, 355 
Eous, 104 
Epirus, 288 
Epicurus, 382 

Ephiaistos, 461 
Ephesus, 466 

Ephatreen, 139 

Erotrac, 397 

Eryx, 135 

Erynnys, 154, 463 

Erisichthous, 185 

Erichtho, 185 

Erymanthian boar, 259 

Erigone, 463 

Eros, 303 

Eriphile, 321 

Erythraean, 432 

Esquimaux, 465 

Espagniols, 98 

Eternity, 6, 186, 420, 42C 

Eteocles, 47 

Etham, 369 

Euripides, 380 

Eunoe, 418 

Euris, 460 

Eurynome, 461 

Eurydice, 261 

Eunymo, 278 

Eusthynes, 278 

Euclid, 308 

Euterpe, 319 

Eurippus, 320 

Eunonie, 321 

Europa, 322 

Euphrosyne, 322 
Eurynome, 322 
Euphrates, 368 
Euphranos, 26 
Euxine, 43 
Euganean, 61 
Eunaeus, 113 
Euryale, 149 
Eumenides, 186 



Evechous, 381 
Eve, 300 
Even, 310 
Evil-merodoch, 379 
Evening, 51 
Evil, 151, 454 
Exampsal, 152 
Exandus, 153 
Ezekiel, 377 
Ezion-geber, 467 



Fate, Book of, 169 

Fate, 6, 174, 281, 289 

Fame, 50, 234, 436 

Father-land, 55 

Fancy, 57 

Fatuis's, 241 

Falern, 315 

Faith, 361, 380, 472 

Fabricius, 463 

Fear, 457 

Fears, 56 

Fezzanee, 97 

Fire, god of, 78 

Fire, genii of 344 

Fire— Etern, 391 

Fright, 128, 244 

Flanders, 128 

Flame, 144 

Fortunate Isles, 137 

Fortune, 163 

Formian, 315 

Fok, 397 

Folly, 458 

Freedom, sons of, 216 

Freedom, ghost of, 228 

France, 252 

Francis, St., of Assizi,295 

Frankenstein's, a, 335 

Franconia, 338 

Frank, 346 

Frenzy, 115 

Frosts, 120 

Fury, 143, 458 

Furies, 49 

Fucci, 397 



Gallic, 13 
Gaudaloupe, 100 
Gath, giant of, 132 
Gallilean, 1(52 
Gabriel, 164, 386 
Gauls, 166 



Galatea, 303 

Galileo, 320 

Ganilion, 327 

Gaza, 367 

Ganges, 381 

Galen, 384 

Gallilee, 401 

Gagtulian, 40 

Gentiles, 15 

Georgian, 127 

Geryon, 165, 430 

Geysers, 254 

Genesis, 320 

Genseric, 340 

Gellius, 385 

Genii, 420 

German, 451 

Gentile, 7 

Ghosts, 56 

Ghuznee, 466 

Giours, 73 

Giants, The, 140 

Gilead, 261 

Gilgal, 372, 278 

Gideon, 372 

Gloriel, 18 

Glooms, 56 

Glaucus, 119 

Gloom, Eternal, 123 

Glauce, 303 

Gladness, 315 

Gnossian, 137 

Gorgonites, 43 

Gorgon, 261 

Gorgons, 67 

Gothland, 84 

Golconda, 127 

Gog, 129 

Golden Fleece, The, 266 

Gordian Chord, The, 306 

Gomer, 367 

Goshen, Land of, 369 

Graecia, 79 

Greek, 4 

Grothor, 272 

Grime, 2S9 

Graces, The, 303 

Greccan, 445 

Groan, a, 453 

Guilt, 196, 458 

Gunga, 467 

Gwalior, 17 

H 

TIavaphon, 1 1. fee. 



480 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Hadriel, 21 
Hades, 41 

Hamilcar, son of, 130 
Hate, 143 

Haroun al Raschid, 156 
Hallar, 192 
Hammonak, 271 
Harrinthrytor, 372 
Hamadryads, 303 
Hafez, 304 
Hamlet, 326 
Hazeroth, 370 
Halak, 372 
Hamath, 375 
Hanani, 377 
Habakkuk, 377 
Haggai, 377 
Harec, 397 
Haephestion, 312 
Hasmus, 9 
Hedjas, 26 
Heber, 27 
Hesiod, 47, 380 
Herculaneum, 59 
Heliodorus, 67 
Hecuba, 73 

Heaven, fabled god of, 78 
Hell, fabled god of, 78 
Hercules, 121, 262 
Hermes, 121 
Hecla, 133 
Hebridean, 177 
Hecate, 185, 293 
Hebe, 241 

Hermaphroditus, 251 
Hellenes, 252 
Heliogabalus, 257 
Hector, 258 
Hecatompylos, 275 
Helicon, Zion's, 302 
Hebrews, 311 
Hesperides, 318 
Hermes, 319 
Henoch, 355 
Hevila, 366 
Heber, 368 
Hebron, 373 
Hezekiah, 375 
Herod, the Edomite, 377 
Helios, 380 
Hellena, 401 
Hermon, 408 
Hebon, 461 
Hector, 258 
Hindoostan, 5 



Hippolyte, 59 
Hibernian, 85 
Himmala, 100 
Himmel, 141 
Hippomedon, 126, 263 
Hierosalem, 275 
Hippocrene, 304 
History, 320 
Hippolita, 322 
Hiram, 373 
Hopes, 56 
Homer, 125 
Hound of Hades, 148 
Horror, 155, 157 
Honour, 234, 428 
Hopra, 271 
Hollos, 346 
Hor, Mount, 371 
Hosea, 374, 377 
Hot, 433 

Hopelessness, 458 
Hurons, 114 
Hyprostrar, 271 
Hyperion, 312 
Hymettan, 316 
Hyrcanian, 415 
Hyacinthus, 73 
Hylosaph, 192 
Hylas, 251 

I 
Iapyx, 35 
Iapetus, 247 
Ibzan, 372 
Icke, 37 
Icarus, 99 
Iceland, 120, 254 
Idumean, 318 
Ida, 136, 296 
Idalian doves, 218 
Idaean boy, 251 
Iddo, 377 
Ierne, 297 
Ije-abarim, 371 
Ilium, 92 
Illyrian, 137 
Uyssos, 189 
Imaus, 134 
Imagination, 307 
Ind, 377 
Indus, 460 
Indian, 32, 295, 318 
Inexperience, 89 
Infamy, 196 
Infinity, 391 



Intellect, 425 
Ionian, 221 
lolchos, 261 
Iphiclus, 261 
Iron Gates, The, 249 
Irene, 461 
Israel, 7, 369 
Isis, 107, 368, 463 
Ismenos, 148 
Ismarus, 258 
Isthmus, The, 262 
Iscariot, 326 
Isaiah, 377 
Isocrates, 385, 419 
Issachar, 467 
Islam, 468 
Italian, 332 
Ithacus, 46 
Ixion, 253 



Jair, 372 

Jason, 204 

Javan, 247, 312, 367 

Janira, 303 

Janassa, 318 

Jared, 355 

Jairus, 365 

Jael, 366 

Japhet, 367 

Jannes, 369 

Jambres, 369 

Jasa, 371 

Jaddus, 376 

Japetus, 379 

Jatmund, 391 

Jesse, 13, 399 

Jews, 61, 454 

Jerusalem, 61, 372, 467 

Jenrosar, 139 

Jectan, 367 

Jericho, 372 

Jephtha, 372 

Jeroboam, 373 

Jehosophat, 374 

Jehoram, 374 

Jehu, 374, 377 

Jehoash, 374 

Jeroboam, 374 

Jehoahaz, 375 

Jehoiakim, 375, 376 

Jeshua, 376 

Jewry, 385 

Jove, 26, 163, 221, &c. 

Jormungandr, 57 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



481 



Jonah, gourd of, 173 
Joshua, 372 
Joshua, Book of, 220 
Jocasta, 336 
Joseph's bones, 369 
Jordan, 372, 401 
J oram, 374 
Jotham, 374 
Josiah, 375 
John, 376 
Joel, 377 
Jonah, 377 
Jumna, 17 
Jupiter, 25, 275, 462 
Judah, 107, 372 
Juno, 251, 304 
Judas, 327, 376 
Juvenal, 385 
Justice, 423 
Julius, 463 
Juggernauth, 466 

K 

Kalmuc, 124 
Kabyles, 249 
Kadesh, 371 
Karedwen, 463 
Kirkdale, 339 
Kibroth-hattava, 371 
Klopstock, 451 
Knowledge, 422 



Laplandish, 4 
Larves, 5 
Lapithites, 50 
Lamalmon, 81 
Latraeus, 190 
Laocoon, 260 
Lampetie, 261 
Land, The Promised, 316 
Lampethusa, 329 
Lachesis, 330 
Lamech, son of, 346 
Laborosoarchod, 379 
Lawrence, river St., 382 
La Plata, 382 
Lactantius, 385 
Latmus, Mount, 462 
Laodicea, 466 
Laera, 241 
Lebanon, 409 
Levantine, 445 
Leontides, 462 
Lernaean, 59 



Lethe, 291 
Lebadaean cave, 292 
Lesa, 367 
Lebahim, 367 
Libecchio, 453 
Line, The, 12 
Lilybaeum, 48 
Ligia, 49 
Licosa, 49 
Lisbon, 103 

Lightnings, 126, 133, 244 
Lichas, 132 
Linesung, 171 
Liparian towers, 249 
Limnoria, 317 
Linnaeus, 319 
Livy, 385 
Lotophagian, 315 
Longinus, 25 
Locrian, 75 
Logoden, 139 
Locke, 320 
Louvre, The, 339 
Lombard, 430 
Loathesomeness, 457 
Lui-shin, 399 
Luna, 462 
Lutzmee, 466 
Lucifer, 2 
Luxor, 107 
Lucullus, 258 
Lucretia, 385 
Lysias, 385 
Lybian, 34, 367 
Lydian, 125 
Lyssian, 155 
Lycophron, 291 
Lycaean Pan, 295 
Lycabessos, 316 

M 

Mattanah, 371 
Mahaliel, 371 
Manasseh, 375 
Mattaniah, 375 
Malachi, 377 
Maremma, 432 
Madness, 458 
Magellan's Straits, 465 
Mantchous, 465 
Mahanaim, 473 
Macbeth, 185 
Macedonian, 190, 379 
Maxi mius, 208 
Mazzaroth, 246 
I I 



Malay, 255 

Mahomet, 15, 275, 464 
Maia, son of, 275 
Mazinor, 278 
Mazob, 278 
Marcus Anthony, 331 
Mantuan, 334 
Malebolge, 335 
Marsians, 340 
Manillan, 350 
Mathusala, 355 
Malaleel, 355 
Maronean, 366 
Macrinus, 366 
Magog, 367 
Madai, 367 
Madeira, 9 
Marmarico, 45 
Mauritanian, 46 
Mars, snake of, 60, 164 
Marius, 60 
Matter, 63 
Mamelukes, 71 
Madness, 123 
Magog, 129 
Mab, 129 
Maccabee, 130 
Maid, Heavenly, 137 
Maelstrom, 139 
Maeonian, 55 
Maestral, 183 
Maera, 303 
Maenads, 318 
Maecenus, 461 
Menahem, 374 
Median, 379 
Mede, 377 
Memnon, 381 
Memory, 423 
Mexico, 465 
Mexico, gulf of, 204 
Mesilegines, 248 
Melpomone, 259, 277 
Medea, 261 
Melita, 303 
Mendips, 339 
Megaera, 345 
Messiah, 358, 386 
Messalina, 366 
Mesraim, 366 
Memphis, 367 
Messa, 367 
Memnonian, 25 
Mesocsesius, ;)."; 
Medusa, 11 



482 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Mede, 78 
Menelaus, 92 
Memory, 2, 166 
Minerva, 7, 121, 321 
Midian, 371 
Michael, 17 
Milton, 37, 430 
Milo, 47 
Minotaur, 58 
Minos, 78, 289, 359 
Misery, 187 
Mirabeau, 215 
Midas, 296 
Michajah, 377 
Michah, 377 
Mithras, 378 
Mississippi, 382 
Migdol, 461 
Moon, 6 

Mnemosyne, 4, 380 
Moabitish, 311 
Mcenutius, 163 
Mceris, 248 
Moor, 470 
Mopsus, 385 
Moses, 369 
Moab, 371, 373 
Motonsinoth, 192 

Mockery, 196 

Mongibell, 232 

Mosoch, 367 

Mogul, The, 9 

Morn, 9, 332 

Moloch, 14, &c. 

Momus, 26 

Mozazor, 37 

Mohawks, 85 

Montezume, 98 

Morphic, 98 

Montreal, 128 

Moslemen, 135 

Mona, 148 

Morescoes, 156 

Mulijebe, 368 

Muse, the Sacred, 3 

Mulciber, 101, 279 

Myttilon, 139 

Mycale, 70 

Myrrha, 312 

Mystery, 391 

Myrionymnia, 463 

N 
Narcissus, 13 
Naiads, 68, 332 



Naumachia, 207 
Nature, 308 
Naso, 331 
Na, 346 

Nashmurdrand, 346 
Naphtuhim, 367 
Nachor, 368 
Naomi, 372 
Nadab, 374 
Nahum, 377 
Nabopolassar, 379 
Napeans, 380 
Napoleon, 468 
Necropolis, 4 
Nereids, 6 
Nemesis, 6 
Nebuchadnezzar, 15, 376 
New Guinea, 16 
Neva, 36 
Nemsean, 46 
Neptune, 67, 177, 191 

Nesseus, 132 
Nebo, 206 

Nero, 232 
Nemertes, 241 
Nesse, 241 

Newton, 247 

Nepamon, 279 

Necessity, 291, 457 

Nephilim, 342 

Nemrod, 366 

Nebo, Mount, 371, 461 

Neriglissar, 379 

Negroland, 464 

Nepaul, 467 

Nergal, 378 

Night, 2, 39 

Nisroch, 14 

Nysa, 22, 129 

Niagara, 128 

Nicandar, 188, 385 

Nireus, 312 

Niobe, 317 

Nile, 336, 367, 463 

Nineve, 367 

Ninus, 378 

Niger, 464 

Norwegian, 4 

Norseman, 13 

Northern Hive, 15 

Nox, 150 

Nothing, 244 

Nought, 170 

Nomron, 271 

Nod, Land of, 340 



Noah, 344 
Noise, 430 
Numidian, 294 
Nyssean, 113 

O 

Oboth, 371 
Obadiah, 377 
Obscure, The, 433 
Oberon, 129 
Obazur, 152 
Oblivion, 186 
Ocean-god, 78 
Ocean, Northern, 84 
Ocean Spirit, 222 
Oceanides, 254 
Occident, The, 310 
CEdipus, 70, 289 
CEta, 290 
CEneides, 462 
GEnean, 49 
CEte, 70 
GSbalian, 72 
GEthon, 104 
Og, 371 
Ogyges, 36 
Oileus, 76 
Olympian, 27, 275 
Olympia, 82 
Olympians, 121 
Olympus, 140 
Olympic, 156 
Olympiads, 384 
Omphale, 331 
Omri, 374 
Omonoros, 132 
Ompthos, 152 
On, 367 
Onchestus, 22 
Ontario, 128 
Oom, 346 
Ophiagii, 340 
Ophion, 461 
Ops, 461 
Ophir, 467 
Opathron, 139 
Ore, 6 

Orestes, 13, 59, 186 
Oroo, 15 
Ortygia, 36 
Orthus, 42 
Orissan, 63 
Oronok, 106 
Orphean, 139 
Ormuz, 177 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



483 



Orinos, 191 
Orion, 246 
Orpheus, 261, 318 
Orestiades, 303 
Orsus, 312 
Orythea, 318 
Oramuz, 378 
Oreb, 383 
Osmanlis, 464 
Osiris, 218, 368 
Ossa, 140 
Oth, 278 
Othman, 336 
Othniel, 372 
Outer Darkness, 334 
Ovid, 364 
Owhyee, 462 
Owhyeian, 121 
Oxmantown, 156 



Pacific, 10 
Parthian, 15 
Parrhasian, 16 
Palmyran, 25 
Palladian, 316 
Pandora, 322 
Parnassian, 332 
Paean's rue, 264 
Patmos, John of, 94 
Papirius, 206 
Pandemonium, 336, 392 
Palestina, 336 
Palladio, 419 
Pactolus, 451 
Panic, 457 
Pain, 457 
Parcee, 132 

Pagan, Nine, The, 162 
Parthenon, 461 
Pallas, 25, 71, 462 
Panathees, 463 
Pan, 217 
Pantheists, 218 
Patna, 232 
Paris, 252, 312 
Paphian, 252, 462 
Parthonopaeus, 253 
Patrancosothos, 255 
Patrocles, 258 
Pathricknites, 171 
Pallor, 274 
Pathrine, 278 
Paratheel, 282 
Panope, 303 



Pandionian birds, 304 
Pasithae, 316 
Pachymus, 48 
Pasiphae, 58 
Parthian s, 71 
Pelasgic, 4 
Persian, 9, 78, 375 
Persepolis, 41 
Pelorus, 48 
Pelides, 75 
Petasian, 78 
Pegu, 81 
Pelias, 204 
Pestilence, 234 
Perseus, 260 
Periclymenos, 263 
Peloponesus, 266 
Pelops, 293 
Peneus, 295 
Peleus, 312 
Peninsula, The, 466 
Pergamos, 466 
Pellaean, 124 
Perdition, 124, 457 
Pelion, 140 
Peruvian, 143 
Percnos, 144 
Perjuries, hunted by, 161 
Perimile, 166 
Pentelic, 177 
Pekahiah, 374 
Pekah, 374 
Perse, 377 
Peri, 378 
Pelasgian, 461 
Phoebe, 317 
Phidias, 321 
Phosphor, 164, 323 
Phaethusa, 329 
Phuth, 366 
Phethrusim, 367 
Phaleg, 367 
Phihairoth, 370 
Pharan, 370 
Phasgo, 372 
Pharmacus, 380 
Phocean, 380 
Phoenician, 275,381,462 
Phraorte, 381 
Phrygian, 451 
Phornicorash, 115 
Phrymour, 123, 191 
Pharnaspine, 139, 151 
Pholeus, 1 1 1 
l'li.ua, 119 



Philogave, 149 
Phoebus, 150 
Pharioch, 151 
Phaeton, 163 
Phthah, 463 
Philadelph, 466 
Pharian, 218 
Phalaris, 232 
Phylae, 233 
Phrygian, 249 
Philistine, 260 
Pholeus, 271 
Phalton, 278 
Pherusa, 303 
Phantasians, 303 
Philippi, 13 
Philistia, 14 
Pharoa, 25, 375 
Phineus, 41 
Phlegethon, 42 
Phorcys, 43 
Phantasies, 56 
Phaedra, 59 
Philoctetes, 68 
Pheretian, 72 
Philipson, 82 
Phalton, 87 
Pirithous, 258 
Pillars, The, 262 
Pirois, 104 
Pindus, 135 
Pizarro, 144 
Pisa, 148 
Pisonaes, 149 
Pitho, 330 
Pindar, 380 
Pleides, 461 
Pliny, 333 
Plato, 383 
Plutarch, 385 
Plague, 457 
Pluto, 116 
Plutus, 163 
Plegon, 104 
Po, 16 

PolynicL's, 17 
Poesy, 54 
Pompeii, 59 
Podarge, 72 
Poppea, 73 
Polypheny, 7.^ 
I'onlus, SI 

Podisthinos, 2,'>o 
Pollux, -J),; 
Polydectes, 2<>l 



484 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Power, 309 
Polar, 117 
Pompey, 341, 375 
Pomona, 364 
Ponent, 445 
Protceus, 344 
Prescience, 424 
Providence, 428 
Pride, 216, 285, 458 
Praxitilean, 137 
Propae tides, 165 
Proto, 241 
Priam, 275, 297 
Prospal, 278 
Proserpina, 295 
Procrustes, 51 
Pschyce, 303 
Psyllians, 239 
Ptolemies, 322 
Pterelas, 133 
Punic, 336 
Putrefaction, 457 
Py lades, 13 
Pylian, 83 
Pylon, 255 
Pygmaean, 129 
Python, 142 
Pythian, 156 
Pythonissa, 324 
Pyrrha, 363 
Pythagoras, 383 

Q 

Quirine, 73 
Quirites, 297 
Quintius Curtius, 385 

R 

Raabon, 37 
Ramael, 37 
Rainbow, the, 141 
Raphael, 199 
Rassach, 212 
Rage, 244 
Raphidim, 370 
Rachel, 399 
Rama, 399 
Resolve, 117 
Resentment, 118, 244 
Religion, 300, 380 
Rephaims, 339 
Regma, 366 
Resen, 367 
Rchoboth, 367 
Rcphath, 367 



Reu, 368 
Recem, 371 
Rebe, 371 
Rehoboam, 373 
Red Sea, 389 
Rhodian, 25 
Rhytoronon, 278 
Rhadamanthus, 289 
Rhamnuse, 291 
Rhodope, 302 
Rhamnes, 380 
Rhodian, 381 
Rhotyn, 421 
Rome, 61, 232, 275 
Romulus, 114 
Rout, 124, 244 
Roman, 154, 297 
Rosicrusian, 345 
Rubens, 15 
Rumor, 75 
Ruin, 108, 130, 146, 244 
Ruth, 372 
Ruggieri, 397 



Salem, 7 
Saul, 13, 27, 373 
Sacrael, 20, 164, 247 
Saturn, 41 
Sabines, 49, 113 
Saracener, 75 
Satire, 77 
Saharr, 97 
Savannah, 123 
Sappharon, 126 
Samiel, 141 
Salome, 376 
Sardanapalus, 378 
Sardis, 381, 466 
Saturnalia, 383 
Sallust, 385 
Sabaean, 295, 461 
Sate, 463 
Savendroeg, 271 
Saropeli, 271 
Sadi, 304 
Salem, 309 
Sardinian, 344 
Saba, 366 
Sabtah, 366 
Sabtechah, 366 
Sais, 367 
Sala, 368 
Sarug, 368 
Samson, 372 



Samuel, 373 
Saladdon, 156 
Sarmatian, 161 
Saturn's Belt, 187 
Sagana, 187 
Saturnia, 217 
Saturn, 247 
Scythian, 149 
Scio, 162 

Scorpion, The, 164 
Scandinavia, 22 
Scandinavian, 177 
Sciron, 191 
Scylla, 233 
Scholaf, 271 
Scrematry, 346 
Scierian, 463 
Scipio, 463 
Sclave, 470 
Scylla, 38 
Scorn, 143 
Sennacherib, 14 
Sejanus, 29 
Septentrional, 35 
Serapis, 368 
Sea, 42 
Seine, 56 
Sennaar, 107 
Sepharvaim, 375, 378 
Sennacherib, 375 
Sense, 382 
Seneca, 385 
Seba, queen, 432 
Serborian, 442 
Semele, 328 
Serena, 329 
Seths, 340 
Sehar, 367 
Seir, 372 

Seven Hills, The, 206 
Sesostris, 248 
Sharon, rose of, 325 
Shraphryth, 346 
Shiskah, 374 
Shreesh, 349 
Shinaar, 364 
Shamgar, 372 
Shunamite, 374 
Shallum, 374 
Shalmaneser, 374 
Shemiah, 377 
Shry, 397 
Shenir, 408 
Shakespear, 155 
Sinus, 183 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



485 



Sister Fiends, the, 1 85 

Simnis, 191 

Siberian, 122, 251 

Sinon, 252 

Sin, 42, 187, 352, 441 

Sisters Three, the, 49 

Sighs, 56 

Sioux, 114 

Sin, hounds of, 148 

Sirens, 318 

Sinon, 327 

Silenes, 339, 451 

Sisera, 366 

Sidon, 367 

Sinai, 370 

Sifanaros, 421 

Silence, 431 

Skev, 177 

Slaughter, 126, 160 

Smyrna, 466 

Smyrna, Gulf of, 135 

Solitude, 150 

Sodom, 410 

Sodom, Apples of, 173 

Sostrates, 177 

Sothor, 191 

Sorrata, 37 

Soul of Numbers, 55 

Sorrows, 56 

Solymseans, 122 

Solyphron, 136 

Solyma, Nymphs of, 313 

Sogdian, 316 

Solomon, Seal of, 345 

Socrates, 383 

Solon, 383 

Sothon, 421 

Soeva, 466 

Somnauth, 466 

Spio, 318 

Space, 46, 391, 450 

Sprite-Compeller,The, 5 

Spitzbergers, 135 

Spheno, 149 

Spanish, 204 

Spectres, 244 

Spring, 313 

Statius, 385 

Stoa, 465 

States, The, 468 

Strophades, 266 

Styx, 291 

Stagy rite, 320 

Strypian, 350 

Steppes, The, 362 



Strongyle, 249 

Strength, god of, 260 

Stromboli, 164 

Staffa, 177 

Sterops, 191 

Strympbalian, 192 

Stygian, 4 

Storm, 14 

St. George, 59 

Stentorian, 123 

Steropes, 145 

Sun, 17, 332 

Sub-Tartarean, 55 

Succoth, 368, 378 

Sur, Wilderness of, 370, 

371 
Susa, 460 
Suez, 467 
Syrians, 376 
Sylvanus, 332, 381 
Syrinx, 317 



Taphne, 22 
Tartish,156 
Ta-ho, the, 232 
Tarpeian, 234 
Tantalus, 289 
Tartarian, 315 
Tafilet, 316 
Tsenarus, 70 
Tasso, 331 
Tarquin, 348 
Taphne, 368 
Taberah, 371 
Tahmuraz, 378 
Tartac, 378 
Tadmor, 384 
Tacitus, 385 
Tauromer, 421 
Tartar, 443 
Tarpeian, 461 
Teinans, 367 
Terah, 368 
Teraphim, 375 
Tempest, 141, 430 
Tellus, 165 
Teucrian, 296 
Teucer, 72, 297 
Tethvs, 303 
Tenedos, 315 
Terror, 60, 149, 275, &c 
TenerhTe, 81 
Tell, 114 
Teuton, 135 



Thor, 13 
Thaumantius, 15 
Thisb, 22 
Thebais, 23 
Thais, 41 
Theseus, 41, 258 
Thrace, god of, 62 
Thetis, 68, 303 
Thunder, 126, 133, 244 
Thunder, broods of, 436 
Thebans, 126 
Thessalian, 131 
Thracian, 140, 302, 366 
Thamyras, 162 
Threicius, 177 
Thessaly, 188 
Thrynown, 191 
Thummin, 231 
Thaumas, 254 
Thrimos, 255 
Thyestian, 257 
Thrydaomer, 271 
Theophestus, 278 
Thalia, 317, 380 
Thoa, 303 

Thebes, Bcetian, 329 
Themis, 363 
Thubal, 367 
Thiras, 367 
Thogarm, 367 
Tharshish, 367 
Thoth, 368 
Theocrites, 380 
Thucidides, 385 
Tbrymbrcean, 452 
Theoricons, 462 
Thales, 464 
Thibet, 465 
Thyatira, 466 
Titus, 275, 460 
Tibur, 460 
Tityon, 265 
Titan, 4, 290 
Tithonous, 296 
Tiresias, 324 
Tidore, 16 
Titania, 37 
Tinacrian, 3S 
Timor, 39 
Time, 57, 23S, 30! 
Tisiphone, 70 
Tityus, 76 
Tigra, si 
Timiel, 103 
Tophet, 352, 375 



486 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Toba. 372 
Tola, 372 
Tomyris, 3S1 
Tonquin, 440 
Torquatus, 233 
Tros. son of, 241 
Tolu, 261 
Toron, 271 
Tongataboo, 333 
Togarm, 14 
Tootoonab, 71 
Tonoros, 115 
Toledo, 142 
Tomos, 161 
Troy, 7, 119, 297, 316 
Tropic, The, 33, 295 
Triron. 77 
Truth, 128 
Triton, 140 
Tritonia, 1S9 
Tryometon, 191 
Traezenian, 255 
Trvmenor, 263 
Trinity, The, 300 
Trivia, 344 
Troundell, 346 
Trophonian, 3 SO 
Turkey, 252, 467 
Tumult, 458 
Turcomans, 362 
Tuscan, 187 
Tuilleries, 189 
Turk, 75 
Tydeus, 126 
Tyrinthe, 25 
Typhaeus, 47 
Tvphaean. 60 
Tyrians, 177 
Tyn-henian, 187 
Typhon, 368 
Tyre, 373 
Typhurgo, 457 

U 

Ugolon, 192 



Ugoline de Gherardeschi,' 

^397 
Ulai, Banks of, 473 
Undying Worm, 54, 286 

Undelight, 243, 45 S 
Unresolves, 244 
j Universe, the, 277 
Upas, the. 56 
Uproar, 123 
Urim, 231 
Uriel. 113 
Urania, 5, 139, 297 
Utmost, The, 262 
Utopia, 465 
Uzzean Job, 135 



Vaicontha, 16 

Vathec, 102, 278 

Vast. The, 170, 231, 277 

Vacancy, 210, 442 

Vandals, 340 

Venus, SO, 164, 303 

Vengeance, 129, 154, 157 

Veia, 1S5 

Vespasian, 189 

Venetian Doge, 220 

Vesta, 288, 444 

Vertumnus, 321 

Veeshnu, 465 

Virtue, 141 

Victoria, the Queen, 243, 

414, 469, 474 
Victory, 143 
Vitruvius, 419 
Vice, 382 

Void, 151, 188, 309 
Vulcan, 121, 470 
Vulturnian, 183 

W 

Waterloo, 13 
Waves, 33 
War, 140 
War, god of, 67 



War, dogs of, 146 

Walhalla, 125 

Way of Lidit, 150 

Waste, 430 

Water, genii of, 344 

Westminster, 296 

Wellington, 468 

Wishes, 30 

Winds, 33, 144 

Winter, 131, 244, 336 

Wonder, 261, 458 

Woe, 391, 458 

Wraiths, 243 

Wrath, 123,150,244,447 

Wrath, sons of, 127 

X 

Xanthus, 149 
Xenophon, 385 
Xerxes, 78 



ZamoLxis, 463 
Zabrash, 15, &c. 
Zarael, 123 
Zamiel, 343 
Zared, 371 
Zacharia, 374 
Zachary, 377 
Zenobia, 25 
Zephyrs, 29 
Zeus, 117, 461 
Zembla, 137 
Zethes, 266 
Zephaniah, 377 
Zeno, 464 
Ziphroth, 211, 278 
Zion's Helicon, 302 
Zion, Muse of, 342 
Zin, 371 
Zimri, 374 
Zodiac, the, 183 
Zones, the Golden, 308 
Zoilus, 454 
Zyninthrine, 172, 342 



314.77-1). 



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